Pitcher hit by line drive

[Fanof12]

What about kids that have parents that don't care? So it's OK for those kids to get their faces mangled? Sorry kid you've got crappy parents now your life is ruined - too bad so sad.

[dustyshoes]

We have had two girls in our area (two varsity pitchers, one who plays for our team) hit smack in the face by line drives in the past week--one was taken away in an ambulance. My daughter, who plays behind the plate and on the corner, has never wanted to wear one. However, we were in Dick's over the weekend, and when we walked by the face masks, I asked if she wanted one. She responded with her usual, "No," but then she added, "But if you get me one, I'll wear it." So we got it.

I got the Gameface mask last year for my dd and she hated it so when we were at Dicks a couple of months ago we noticed the Defender on sale there and picked one up. IMO, the Defender is a much better mask than Gameface; goes on and off like a ski mask (not that crappy manually adjusted 3 strap design), it doesn't jut out as much from the face (makes my skinny dd look like a stork), the padding is more comfortable and the black plastic absorbs glare better.

[GSB]

Ok,

The old nerf suit comment is in order.

I don't even see anything to argue about on this one. Even if ASA formed a committee and began investigating the need and approving the standards for a mask, today. It would be at least 1 to 3 years before anything was implemented. Being mid 2009 season, the soonest you could expect to see any rule adoption would be the start of the 2011 season and most likely more like the 2013 season. Thats if they started today.

I don't see why parents refuse to parent their children. They are minors and you, not ASA, not their coach, not their teammates are responsible for their safety. If you believe your child needs the protection of a face mask, ASA does not forbid their use.

I guess with the new breed of parent who does not like to be the "bad guy", its easier to wait until ASA does the job of parenting for them.

When I was 16, I purchased a motorcycle. There was no helmet law in California back in those days. My mother and father refused to let me even sit on it without my helmet on. Go figure, folks not waiting around for a law to do the job of parenting for them. What a concept!

Folks, wake up and smell the coffee. No matter what side of the fence you are on with this issue, you are in control of your child's safety. Rule or no rule.

[MTR]

Why the insults, Mike? You know as well as I do that organizations in all walks of life mandate safety equipment...many times in response to changing conditions. ASA has legalized dangerous bats, so we...as parents, need to react accordingly...to protect ASA.

Well, if you think the suggestion is an insult, I'd really hate to put you through the pain and suffering of something that might actually be insulting.

The batting helmet mask issue was orchestrated by Schutt. They were on the group that came up the NOCSAE standard....which their masks already met....then ASA mandated that all the masks had to have the NOCSAE stamp and refused to grandfather in the masks that met the standard...so everybody had to buy new masks.

A conspiracy. Wow that is a new one, just one problem. Even if Schutt was already compliant, the NOCSAE probationary period still gave the competition time to meet the same standards and place the approval stamp on their product at the same time as Schutt.

And since the mandate carries liability, I wouldn't grandfather a product that could not be tested, either. Wow, another $15-$25 to keep your child healthy is such a burden. But the bats, $250-$350 is not a problem. Yep, someone's priorities are pretty screwed up.

Pointing out stupidity in a process isn't whining, Mike, its what you are supposed to do. That was the sole "whining" I heard about the batting helmet masks. You may have heard more in that bastion of ASA Girls Fastpitch Softball we call simply ......Delaware.

Ooh, that hurt. Only an idiot thinks that words can actually hurt or cause any harm. And I agree, it was stupid since it never should have been necessary and the whining came long before the equipment was mandated. But then again, I heard most of it on this and other coach/parent oriented forum which includes a majority of posters from the Southwest portion of this country, not the Northeast.

However, as usual, you have taken a strawman position by avoiding the topic of my posts that addressed peoples' willingness to have the courage to do what they believe is necessary instead of waiting for an organization to mandate it and us them as an excuse.

[Pontiac]

My DD (pitcher) started wearing one about age 12/13 shortly after telling me she wouldn't and shortly before taking a line drive just to the right of her chin. Since then she hasn't even had a close call but continues to wear one now.

Don't let anyone tell you it will hurt your chances of being recruited either. Recruiting is about selling yourself as a great student and athlete. My DD is a 2010 graduate and already committed to a large D1 school in Texas.

[Sam]

Mikey,

You told me to GAFC. I would consider that an insult, Sherlock.

Talk about strawmen..."we'll pay $250-$350 for a bat but not $25 to protect our own kid"....that was beautiful. The Schutt masks were tested Mike....by Schutt....they were already being allowed....the refusal to grandfather the masks was a money decision...to make sure one of ASA's biggest sponsors made as much as possible. No conspiracy...just dirty back room dealing by crooks who stole money from a whole lot of parents that can barely afford for their kids to play the game.

"Ooh, that hurt. Only an idiot thinks that words can actually hurt or cause any harm."

What in the blue hell are you talking about? Are you on crack again?

[36sdad]

I am a construction supervisor for a major telephone company, there are mandates required by the company and by OSHA to make sure that our techs where the proper safety equipment. (I.E. hardhats, safety glasses, gloves, work boots etc.) My point being , wear the gear or go home.(w/o pay!) Parents need to be PARENTS not buddies. If your child loves the game the way she should, she will do (or wear) anything to get on the field and play. Softball is temporary however her face (or life) is forever. Also, I was watching the Big 10 Network last week, (Indiana vs. Purdue I think?) I saw 2 players wearing masks. Thats 2 players in major D1 programs on national tv wearing a mask. Mabey as these girls get older we will see more of them(masks) at that level which will set an example for the younger players. My DD has been wearing a gameface for 3 years and won't take the infield w/o it. Be safe.

[Sam]

I am a construction supervisor for a major telephone company, there are mandates required by the company and by OSHA to make sure that our techs where the proper safety equipment. (I.E. hardhats, safety glasses, gloves, work boots etc.) My point being , wear the gear or go home.(w/o pay!) Parents need to be PARENTS not buddies. If your child loves the game the way she should, she will do (or wear) anything to get on the field and play. Softball is temporary however her face (or life) is forever. Also, I was watching the Big 10 Network last week, (Indiana vs. Purdue I think?) I saw 2 players wearing masks. Thats 2 players in major D1 programs on national tv wearing a mask. Mabey as these girls get older we will see more of them(masks) at that level which will set an example for the younger players. My DD has been wearing a gameface for 3 years and won't take the infield w/o it. Be safe.

Does an OHSA mandate denote that the company doesn't care about their workers enough to make them comply with safety standards? Does a company mandate suggest that the workers are too stupid to use their safety equipment? Just asking.

I noticed nobody wants to suggest lowering the bat standards to those of a wooden bat....which would solve the problem and reveal the kids that actually can hit. The dimensions of the field were not set up for the equipment the players are now using. Happens all the time in golf....they just make the courses longer and add more hazards when the equipment outgains the game. Something needs to be done here....and just protecting a kid's face won't do it.

[36sdad]

Sam I 100% agree! They should lower the bat standards. However you know as well as I do that the "HOT BATS" are a money maker and this whole forum is full of parents that will pay any amount of cash on a bat if they think it will give their kid an advantage and make them hit "better". We should be better coaches and parents and teach our kids "how" to hit rather than "what" to hit with.

[MTR]

Mikey,

You told me to GAFC. I would consider that an insult, Sherlock.

Maybe in your world, I live in the USA.

Talk about strawmen..."we'll pay $250-$350 for a bat but not $25 to protect our own kid"....that was beautiful.

Actually, quite on target and an accurate rebutal to your "no-whine" theory.

The Schutt masks were tested Mike....by Schutt....they were already being allowed....the refusal to grandfather the masks was a money decision...to make sure one of ASA's biggest sponsors made as much as possible. No conspiracy...just dirty back room dealing by crooks who stole money from a whole lot of parents that can barely afford for their kids to play the game.

You live in a small world if you think Schutt carries that much weight with ASA.

EVERYONE's mask was being tested to some level. I think it was Rawlings or Wilson rep that wanted a delay because they stated THEIR mask would meet higher standards than that prescribed by ASTM and NOCSAE. Did Schutt get the jump on the competition? Maybe, but they STILL could not vend the product any sooner than anyone until as prescribed by the standards and mandate DEMANDED by the parents (many on this board). And if it was a "money"-decision conspiracy, it was more likely with the sporting goods vendors who deliberately lied to the consumer trying to dump masks they were well aware would not be accepted on the field.

I'm done talking to a tree.