Game Face Masks

[my97dd]

Watching the video this new facemask from Schutt looks alot more comfortable to wear than whats out there: http://www.youtube.com/user/SchuttSports?feature=mhw4#p/u/0/I_WpiLSx5qA

[Fastpitch TV]

About a year ago Fastpitch TV did a show on all the Facemasks for softball that were out at the time. You can see Episode 51 at http://fastpitch.tv/2009/02/15/episode-51-fastpitch-faceguard-reviews/

[illini 1]

I coach a 14u team, two weeks ago my pitcher took a line drive to the face, she was wearing a plastic game face and the ball broke it. Imagine the damage if she hadnt wore one. In the end she said "Im OK, Im Ok. Thank God!!!!! Best $40 investment Mom ever made!!!!

[Comets16]

What about when the girls are getting older and start to attend college showcases? Do you think college coaches will look at a player wearing a mask as a "negative", such as hasn't been taught to protect herself after a pitch, or a sign of "weakness" such as being "scared" of line drives, etc?

We have first year 14u Picther has wore gameface since first year of 10's, but is now feeling the "pressure" of not to wear it any longer.

Thoughts?

[Blind Squirrel]

What are Game Face masks? Are they supposed to protect a player from some kind of injury to her face or are they just for Halloween? My fragile little snowflake is a pitcher. Should I buy her one? Should she wear it during games if I get her one? Should I let her go without it if she says she doesn't like it?

Has anyone ever heard of a kid getting hurt when they weren’t wearing one? If so, was the injury any worse than just a slight scratch or bruise? Please provide details. It might help me make up my mind.

Should I wear one when I have a disagreement with my wife?

If my kid doesn’t wear one, will everyone think I am a bad parent, mentally retarded, and/or an umpire?

Squirrel of Confusion

[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.

What often happens to mask wearers is that they find themselves in a situation where they want to show well. Either a new higher level team tryout or a college camp/clinic. They will want to impress so they will go out there sans the mask and they will absolutely look horrible. They will turn their head so hard you would think they have whiplash.

Masks are great for anyone that has been injured in the face. They are also great for that player that has a drop in confidence. You use the mask, temporarily, to rebuild that confidence.

You should avoid letting the mask become a crutch. It is always the head turners that are getting hit by the ball. I can tell you 10 minutes into a tryout which kids are most susceptible to get hitting as the season plays out.

It is about confidence in the glove. What I have found is that girls are wired up way different. When boy's get that little hesitation to the ball that little turn of the head you just yell at them, question their manhood a little and they find a way to stay low. Also with boys you can hit them balls at just below their threshold, then turn it up a notch a little at a time. You do those things to a girl, you will hurt the situation more than help.

You have to find ways for them to develop their confidence. I have had a lot of luck working with squishes getting girls to really believe in their glove. Girls do not like it when you point this kind of an issue in front of a team. Talk to them off line. Also do not ignore it, way to many coaches make that mistake.

If you are wearing the mask regularly by second year 14's you are more than likely headed for the rec side of the sport.

[Battle]

What are Game Face masks? Are they supposed to protect a player from some kind of injury to her face or are they just for Halloween? My fragile little snowflake is a pitcher. Should I buy her one? Should she wear it during games if I get her one? Should I let her go without it if she says she doesn't like it?

Has anyone ever heard of a kid getting hurt when they weren’t wearing one? If so, was the injury any worse than just a slight scratch or bruise? Please provide details. It might help me make up my mind.

Should I wear one when I have a disagreement with my wife?

If my kid doesn’t wear one, will everyone think I am a bad parent, mentally retarded, and/or an umpire?

Squirrel of Confusion

Confused? I agree.

[SoCalASABlue]

Hey Numero Uno;

I guess you're going to have to remove the photo of the pitcher wearing the protective mask from the website masthead. Seems you've unknowingly been perpetuating a crutch for cowards. I'm sure it was unintentional and the big bad studs/studettes that constantly deride adolescents that wear them will forgive you if you act immediately to remove this abomination.

[Battle]

It is always the head turners that are getting hit by the ball. I can tell you 10 minutes into a tryout which kids are most susceptible to get hitting as the season plays out.

Seen a pitcher take it in the forehead and knocked out with a concussion. They hauled her out in an ambulance. My question is this- How could she get hit straight to the forehead if the reason she got hit to start with was for the reason of turning her head? If you ask her, she never saw it coming. I say, thank god it wasn't to the mouth or nose.

When boy's get that little hesitation to the ball that little turn of the head you just yell at them, question their manhood a little and they find a way to stay low. Also with boys you can hit them balls at just below their threshold, then turn it up a notch a little at a time. You do those things to a girl, you will hurt the situation more than help.

Huh? Now that's interesting.

[Battle]

Hey Numero Uno;

I guess you're going to have to remove the photo of the pitcher wearing the protective mask from the website masthead. Seems you've unknowingly been perpetuating a crutch for cowards. I'm sure it was unintentional and the big bad studs/studettes that constantly deride adolescents that wear them will forgive you if you act immediately to remove this abomination.

That's funny.