Game Face Masks

[GIMNEPIWO]

Add us to the close call list. DD was pitching and that line drive came back at her face so fast, I can't believe she got her glove up and caught it. Everyone on both sides was quiet for the longest time. Thing is, she had 2 masks in her bag but she never practiced with them. After the inning, she came over to me and said "we are practicing with that mask after this game." I nodded my head and tried to smile but I just felt sick. Thank God she got her glove up.

For what it's worth, I've bought all 3...Game Face, Defender and now the Rip it. The Rip it is by far the best one. Don't even bother with the plastic ones.

Thank God she got her glove up.

Glad she got her glove up ... but " Everyone on both sides was quiet for the longest time " In all my years of Coaching I never saw fans, players or Coaches do this ... Not sure where you are or what age group we are talking about ... but the many times I've seen this the responses were more like " woooweee! who-who -weee! " or the ever popular " holy sh*t ! " or " OMG! " followed by many nervous chuckles and head shaking ...

* EDIT: unless of course she went down

[black&blue]

Add us to the close call list. DD was pitching and that line drive came back at her face so fast, I can't believe she got her glove up and caught it. Everyone on both sides was quiet for the longest time. Thing is, she had 2 masks in her bag but she never practiced with them. After the inning, she came over to me and said "we are practicing with that mask after this game." I nodded my head and tried to smile but I just felt sick. Thank God she got her glove up.

For what it's worth, I've bought all 3...Game Face, Defender and now the Rip it. The Rip it is by far the best one. Don't even bother with the plastic ones.

Thank God she got her glove up.

Glad she got her glove up ... but " Everyone on both sides was quiet for the longest time " In all my years of Coaching I never saw fans, players or Coaches do this ... Not sure where you are or what age group we are talking about ... but the many times I've seen this the responses were more like " woooweee! who-who -weee! " or the ever popular " holy sh*t ! " or " OMG! " followed by many nervous chuckles and head shaking ...

* EDIT: unless of course she went down

Those responses did come, after the dead silence. Maybe it just seemed like a long silence to me cause it was my kid ?? But there was hootin and hollerin after...from both sides. Maybe the silence was in my own head?? Then like you said, nervous chuckles and the head shaking from the parents on our side...especially the ones who knew I had bought her masks. This is 12U and she is a first year, still 11. The other team was most definitely 2nd year. It would have been a long night in the hospital and a lifetime of guilt for me.

[GIMNEPIWO]

Add us to the close call list. DD was pitching and that line drive came back at her face so fast, I can't believe she got her glove up and caught it. Everyone on both sides was quiet for the longest time. Thing is, she had 2 masks in her bag but she never practiced with them. After the inning, she came over to me and said "we are practicing with that mask after this game." I nodded my head and tried to smile but I just felt sick. Thank God she got her glove up.

For what it's worth, I've bought all 3...Game Face, Defender and now the Rip it. The Rip it is by far the best one. Don't even bother with the plastic ones.

Thank God she got her glove up.

Glad she got her glove up ... but " Everyone on both sides was quiet for the longest time " In all my years of Coaching I never saw fans, players or Coaches do this ... Not sure where you are or what age group we are talking about ... but the many times I've seen this the responses were more like " woooweee! who-who -weee! " or the ever popular " holy sh*t ! " or " OMG! " followed by many nervous chuckles and head shaking ...

* EDIT: unless of course she went down

Those responses did come, after the dead silence. Maybe it just seemed like a long silence to me cause it was my kid ?? But there was hootin and hollerin after...from both sides. Maybe the silence was in my own head?? Then like you said, nervous chuckles and the head shaking from the parents on our side...especially the ones who knew I had bought her masks. This is 12U and she is a first year, still 11. The other team was most definitely 2nd year. It would have been a long night in the hospital and a lifetime of guilt for me.

Oh yeah ... scary for sure ... again... glad she got her glove up ... and made the catch ... Good girl !

[Dropn N]

So....is she gonna wear it? Only takes one shot.

[black&blue]

So....is she gonna wear it? Only takes one shot.

Yup...caught the shot on Sunday. Wore the Rip it for pitching lessons Monday, pitched with it in a Rec. game on Tuesday, and wore it in travel practice Wednesday. She also plays 1st base so when the glove goes on, the mask goes on. She said she's already used to it. Gave me a wink during practice when her teammate took a bad hop to the chin.

[Dropn N]

B&B, whats wrong with the plastic one? Which one is most comfortable?

[black&blue]

B&B, whats wrong with the plastic one? Which one is most comfortable?

The Rip It definitely has the best visibility. You can tell just by looking at it...you can still see their face while with the plastic ones, you can only see their eyes. The Defender is the tightest on the forehead and puts all the pressure right on the sinuses. It gave her a headache just wearing it around the house. The Game Face adult size felt too big and the youth size was too small (she's 11, about 5' 5" or so). I would imagine the Rip It will be better in the heat of the summer as the face is not covered in plastic. Her pitching coach was actually disappointed that she could talk in the Rip It...apparently girls can't talk while wearing the Game Face and the pitching coach doesn't have to tell them to shut up when they get chatty

[Dropn N]

Bump!

[Tucson]

I don't have any problem seeing through the Gameface, but then I am an experienced 1st baseman. I guess it is just what we get used to.

The parents that I work with, don't have a chance to show the girls all of the models - (I think there are 5, now.) So, they just buy one and tell them to wear it.

I don't have a favorite, except like I said the adult size Rip It is way too heavy. 5 ounces is a lot.

The men's site that I post on also have this topic about every week. I don' t know what region of the country those men are from, but some of them are really armoring up.

The infields that I am familiar with are so rough, that a bad hop into your teeth, could put a player out of the game for a few weeks.

Here's a site that sells the masks for $20.00 (?), but anyway, I see there are new sizes and a new more open Gameface.
http://www.softballfieldersmask.com/

[Dropn N]

In light of the recent tradgedy. I wanted to bump this up in hopes it will get even one parent to buy a mask for aa kid.