Skarp wrote:GSB wrote:Longdisttrvlballer wrote:I am not a proponent of mandating rules and I agree that it is the parents responsibility to make their DD wear a mask. However as noted no college or very few HS players wear masks these days. I think a lot of this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. By ASA mandating masks at early ages, maybe this will encourage girls to continue wearing them at the HS and college levels, gradually eliminating the stigma of wearing a mask.
I noted no college or very few HS players wear the full body Nerf suits. I think this is due to the social pressure of players looking weak or scared. ASA needs to mandate it. You see how silly that argument looks.
Obviously there is a slippery slope, but it works in both directions. By your implied logic NO safety equipment should be mandated. I wouldn't go that far. Obviously certain types of injuries would be very prevalent without some safety equipment (picture a catcher without gear). Relatively rare injuries are a different species though.
And again, the legitimate justification from ASA's perspective is preserving the viability of the game (and, as NavinR said, legal protection). Equipment mandates to protect against rare injuries don't qualify IMO.
No, I totally agree. My point was just to point out the slippery slope. In one of my first post on this thread, I pointed out that not only pitchers get hit or hurt by balls. If ASA mandates Pitchers wearing the mask then parents will be upset when their 3rd base gets hit. ASA will need to mandate that. Then the center fielder gets smacked and ASA will need to mandate helmets for fielders. Soon we will have the Nerf suits. I think the currently mandated protection is fine. No need for more rules. Leave it to the parents and kids. They will do what they feel comfortable with.