Game Face Masks

[JustBob]

Thanks for the feedback. We ordered one last night with the Blackout technology even.. My DD is looking forward to getting back to play when her teeth firm back up. Man I wish she had been wearing one a week ago!! Thanks Again.

[Dropn N]

Was at a friendly today and at the 11:00 games all starting pitchers in the top of the 1st were wearing masks! Two Rip Its (hopefully Not Rest In Peace) and two Game Face masks! 14U. All at the same time as all 4 fields were visible.....smart parents.

[JustBob]

Ok DD is back in less than two weeks playing with new braces and a healing jaw with the Rip It face mask. Seems strange to see an outfielder with the mask but she could not play without it. Doctors orders even!! She can't wear a mouth guard until her injuries heal completely. Probably will wear it at practice from now on and mouth guard during games when totally healed. We are going to a showcase this weekend and she will be wearing a face mak in the outfield this weekend. Hope the college coaches get it. She would not be able to play without it. Thank You Rip it!! As a family that has been impacted from a pretty substantial injury to their DD. It would be nice to see more young ladies wearing a Face Mask!!

[tcannizzo]

College coaches, as do all high end gold team coaches and most 16u A coaches view the mask as a sign of a player that is afraid of the ball. Period. End of story..

Hooey!

If that's the case, then the same should go for face guards on batting helmets. But it seems to me that I saw several in the WCWS.

[Scoop n K]

Why is it that those in favor of masks for their DDs are not content with just putting one on their kids face? Why must they try and push their choice onto everyone else, often resorting to insults and name calling of those that choose otherwise?

C'mon.....Lets not generalize...personally, I won't let my kid pitch without one, but actually, I don't give a rat's A$# what choice anyone else makes.

I do agree...if you want it on, slap it on, and SHUT UP! If you don't, Hey...It's your (kid's) grill!

[1bzymom]

I see the fielder's mask going the same route as the helmet mask.
When my oldest started playing NO ONE had a face mask on their helmets.
We put one on her helmet at 8u to keep her in the box and now it's mandated by all leagues.

Something that starts as a "Good Idea" becomes actual wear.

[AlwaysImprove]

College coaches, as do all high end gold team coaches and most 16u A coaches view the mask as a sign of a player that is afraid of the ball. Period. End of story..

Hooey!

If that's the case, then the same should go for face guards on batting helmets. But it seems to me that I saw several in the WCWS.

You will not see a batting helmet face guards on players from certain teams. It has taken about 10 years since face guards were mandatory across all youth sanctioning bodies for a few players with masks to show up.

As far as trends, there was a college season about 7 years ago where face guards had their best shot. There were about 6 kids on TN, 4 or 5 on UW, a few on TX, etc., wearing masks. Seemed like every team had at least 3 or 4 players with masks. In the spring of that season a great batter at the time took a ball to the face and broke her jaw. By the following year that number fell back off to what you see as the current trend.

Since that year we have a steady low noise level of mask appearances. On top 100 Div 1 teams you will rarely see more than one player with a mask in the dugout. Often you see a player wear one year, but not the following. I do not see a wave of adoption.

It is extremely competitive on these college teams. They compete for every at bat, for every inning on the field. There is not just one player trying to take your spot, there 18 players on the team, they are all good and most of them play multiple spots. The typical college coaches thinking is that you see the ball better without the mask being in the way. You may agree, you may disagree with this thought, but it does not matter. You tell an 18-20 year old lady that coach thinks she may see the ball better without all that metal in the way, she is going to get in there in and compete.

As far as fielding masks. They are way behind the batting helmet mask debate. You will likely see every kid in college with a batting helmet mask and ncaa requiring batting helmet masks before the discussion on fielding masks begins. To me, right now, the batting helmet mask trend for college is not even on the horizon.

I do not see the fielding mask going the way of batting helmet mask at the youth level. You see it take off in certain areas, in certain groups, then it dies off again. When you go to nationals at 16A or above you will only see a 2-4 kids wearing fielding masks.

[ontheblack]

I completely agree with Always Improve's synopsis, but I dont think looking at 16s and above is an indication of anything right now. What we are seeing is more masks worn at 14u and 12u and those are the groups that represent any trend. With 14s moving to 43 and thus more 14s playing against 16s next spring, I believe you will see an even greater increase in the use of masks for both pitchers and fielders.

More rec leagues are mandating the use of masks for pitchers and corner fielders as well, but I dont expect anything to be made mandatory in the foreseeable future.

[AlwaysImprove]

I agree. I had dd use the mask when she went from 35 to 40 feet, and when she went from 40 to 43. When we started playing a lot from 43, we were a young team playing up and I encouraged pitchers, 1b and 3b to wear masks.

[4girlsmom]

My DD has tried both Rip-It and Game face, while both provide "protection", they
are still a bit uncomfortable, and to use her words "clunky". I am
wondering if there is anything new on the market that is clear (polyurethane?), non-metal and provides
a better view.
Anyone?