Until you actually see someone take a line drive to the face you might think differently but I'm all for the third baseman,short & pitcher in wearing them. I've seen a 3rd baseman take one in the throat and was down for about 20 minutes. Her glove deflected much of the blow that it wasn't as serious as first thought but she did miss the next 3 games.
The other one was a first baseman that was grazed in the ear, if she wouldn't have turned her face it would have been a solid hit. Both were drawn in by fake bunts and were less than 10ft away from home plate.
I'll admit I laughed the first time I seen girls wearing game masks, thinking these parents were being overcautious but now I'm all for a change to make it mandatory for infielders.
TX
This is turning into a debate about personal choice/freedom and giving up that freedom for the greater good. As mentioned above, seatbelts and carseats are just two examples where personal choice has been eliminated in favor of the greater good. You can add no smoking rules in restaurants & airplanes to the list, limits on drinking and driving, cell phone use while driving, yelling "fire" in a crowded theatre, etc etc to the list. I'm sure there is room to debate whether the trade-offs made in enacting those laws were appropriate or not.
Personally, I am all for anything that a) makes my life as a parent easier, and b) increases everyone's safety/well being at little or no cost. This (making masks mandatory) seems like it fits those criteria. Yes, I am and should be the one ultimately responsible for my kid's safety (on and off the ball field), but I am thankful for rules that increase her safety like seatbelt rules, and the one we have here in TX that limits the number of non-adult passengers in the car for new drivers. These make my life easier (one less thing to argue over), and don't cost much if anything. It would be the same with a mandatory mask rule.
Personally, I am all for anything that a) makes my life as a parent easier, and b) increases everyone's safety/well being at little or no cost. This (making masks mandatory) seems like it fits those criteria. Yes, I am and should be the one ultimately responsible for my kid's safety (on and off the ball field), but I am thankful for rules that increase her safety like seatbelt rules, and the one we have here in TX that limits the number of non-adult passengers in the car for new drivers. These make my life easier (one less thing to argue over), and don't cost much if anything. It would be the same with a mandatory mask rule.
- hit4power
- Premium Member
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:09 am
The time has come for the Sanctioning bodies of adult softball and youth fastpitch softball to require all softball pitchers and 3rd basemen to wear a protective softball face mask. While the actual risk of being hit in the face with a line drive is slight, the severity of the injury can be blindness or even death. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1991 reported that more than 100,000 cases of facial trauma occurred in children younger than 14 years while they participated in sports activities with a surprisingly high incidence of female pitchers that are hit with a batted ball.
A couple of real life examples that I have witnessed first hand. A few years back when my daughters softball team was just a 10 year old team, we had the opportunity to play a High School Junior Varsity team. During that game, one of our 10 year old girls hit a line shot back at the pitcher. The pitcher was just able to move her head enough that the ball glanced off the side of her head just above her ear. She immediately fell to the ground and everyone rushed the field to see about her. Fortunately the ball had glanced off of her rather than a straight on blunt impact. She only suffered from a rather severe abrasion on her head, a swollen ear, and a pretty good size knot on her head. Understand that I'm talking about a fairly athletic 14 year old girl only had the chance to react and turn her head about 45 degrees to avoid a ball hit by a 10 year old girl.
Just this season I was watching a fastpitch softball game of 12 year old girls. I was sitting by the father of the 3rd baseman and we were discussing how scary it is that coach's have the 3rd baseman play so close to home plate. Many 3rd baseman now play about 20 feet inside 3rd base and even closer when the coach thinks the other team is going to bunt. Later that same inning, a batter ripped a line drive about 18 inches directly over his daughter's head. She didn't even have time to flinch. Honestly, it was so sudden she didn't have time to duck or move her hands for protection. The dad, relieved that his daughter was okay, said, "That's it. I'm online tonight and will buy a protective face mask. She won't play 3rd base again without one."
One might think a protective face mask is only applicable to girls softball, but that would be naive. Just two years ago, I met a man that played recreational slow pitch softball. He proceeded to tell me that he still plays softball but he can no longer pitch. He had been struck in his right eye socket with a batted ball and could not risk being struck again. Are you ready for this, it took three surgeries and 189 stitches to repair the damage to his eye socket, nose, and cheek. I don't know his exact age, but I suspect he was in his late 20's or early 30's when the injury occurred.
The game of softball is the most participated sport in the U.S. Given this level of participation and the possible severity of facial injuries, it just makes sense that players in high risk positions should be required to wear a softball protective face mask. The unfortunate reality is that most people will not wear safety gear until they are required to do so. A couple of years ago, face masks on batting helmets became mandatory. In the year prior to that rule, my daughter's softball team was the only team in our fastpitch softball league that voluntarily put face masks on batting helmets. That's just one team out of approximately 50 teams.
I'm not sure why more players don't wear the protective face mask. I suspect some parents are not aware that it exists and many other parents don't want to spend the $40.00 because the odds are so slim. Imagine what the cost might be for a trip to the emergency room, a week in the hospital, and two or three re-constructive surgeries. That's just the actual financial cost. Also consider the potential of losing sight in one eye, or the mental damage associated with having scars from 189 stitches. Those costs can't be measured.
Now that you have been made aware of the safety issue, the severity of the injury, the knowledge that there are softball protective face masks on the market, what will your position be? Will you be proactive with your local league? If you coach, will you be proactive with your team? Finally, will you be proactive with your daughter, or with yourself if you play softball?
Slow pitch softball and fastpitch softball are great games. I hope you will take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and those you are responsible for. For more information regarding softball game face protective masks, please see http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/game-face.html.
Jim Moyer is the author of http://www.mysoftballcoach.com Having coached over 500 youth fastpitch softball games, Jim decided to put the information online to allow parent/coaches to draw on his unique experience.
A couple of real life examples that I have witnessed first hand. A few years back when my daughters softball team was just a 10 year old team, we had the opportunity to play a High School Junior Varsity team. During that game, one of our 10 year old girls hit a line shot back at the pitcher. The pitcher was just able to move her head enough that the ball glanced off the side of her head just above her ear. She immediately fell to the ground and everyone rushed the field to see about her. Fortunately the ball had glanced off of her rather than a straight on blunt impact. She only suffered from a rather severe abrasion on her head, a swollen ear, and a pretty good size knot on her head. Understand that I'm talking about a fairly athletic 14 year old girl only had the chance to react and turn her head about 45 degrees to avoid a ball hit by a 10 year old girl.
Just this season I was watching a fastpitch softball game of 12 year old girls. I was sitting by the father of the 3rd baseman and we were discussing how scary it is that coach's have the 3rd baseman play so close to home plate. Many 3rd baseman now play about 20 feet inside 3rd base and even closer when the coach thinks the other team is going to bunt. Later that same inning, a batter ripped a line drive about 18 inches directly over his daughter's head. She didn't even have time to flinch. Honestly, it was so sudden she didn't have time to duck or move her hands for protection. The dad, relieved that his daughter was okay, said, "That's it. I'm online tonight and will buy a protective face mask. She won't play 3rd base again without one."
One might think a protective face mask is only applicable to girls softball, but that would be naive. Just two years ago, I met a man that played recreational slow pitch softball. He proceeded to tell me that he still plays softball but he can no longer pitch. He had been struck in his right eye socket with a batted ball and could not risk being struck again. Are you ready for this, it took three surgeries and 189 stitches to repair the damage to his eye socket, nose, and cheek. I don't know his exact age, but I suspect he was in his late 20's or early 30's when the injury occurred.
The game of softball is the most participated sport in the U.S. Given this level of participation and the possible severity of facial injuries, it just makes sense that players in high risk positions should be required to wear a softball protective face mask. The unfortunate reality is that most people will not wear safety gear until they are required to do so. A couple of years ago, face masks on batting helmets became mandatory. In the year prior to that rule, my daughter's softball team was the only team in our fastpitch softball league that voluntarily put face masks on batting helmets. That's just one team out of approximately 50 teams.
I'm not sure why more players don't wear the protective face mask. I suspect some parents are not aware that it exists and many other parents don't want to spend the $40.00 because the odds are so slim. Imagine what the cost might be for a trip to the emergency room, a week in the hospital, and two or three re-constructive surgeries. That's just the actual financial cost. Also consider the potential of losing sight in one eye, or the mental damage associated with having scars from 189 stitches. Those costs can't be measured.
Now that you have been made aware of the safety issue, the severity of the injury, the knowledge that there are softball protective face masks on the market, what will your position be? Will you be proactive with your local league? If you coach, will you be proactive with your team? Finally, will you be proactive with your daughter, or with yourself if you play softball?
Slow pitch softball and fastpitch softball are great games. I hope you will take the necessary precautions to ensure your safety and those you are responsible for. For more information regarding softball game face protective masks, please see http://www.mysoftballcoach.com/game-face.html.
Jim Moyer is the author of http://www.mysoftballcoach.com Having coached over 500 youth fastpitch softball games, Jim decided to put the information online to allow parent/coaches to draw on his unique experience.
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Bring it - Posts: 135
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:27 am
Jim Moyer is the author of http://www.mysoftballcoach.com Having coached over 500 youth fastpitch softball games, Jim decided to put the information online to allow parent/coaches to draw on his unique experience.
Coached over 500 games
here in texas most coaches have that by second year 10U 
It's the parents responsibilty to mandate a "CHILD" wear a mask if they decide. If the ego of a coach is too big to allow it on his/her field then they're an idiot. No one needs to pass a rule to make it easier for a parent to once again not take responsibilty for their child. All a rule would do is allow a parent to pass it off as "sorry sweetie a rule is a rule" rather then say "I'm you Parent and thats why". toughen up, grow a pair and make the personal decision either way instead of waiting for someone to give you an easy out without hurting your DD's feelings, because thats all a rule would do.
For the record again my DD pitches and has worn the mask since second year 8U when we switched to the .375 Core .47 balls (Should have been wearing one since day one.) And as a matter of fact she has 2 Game face masks in her bag there is never an excuse that the straps are broken, loose, ants ,sweaty ect.... She wears it anywhere in the infield, doesn't complain about it, always brings it into the dugout, and knows the minute she hits the dirt it goes on. All of this without rules or mandate from anyone but my wife and I...
In the immortal words of the great Spazsdad "Don't get all butt hurt" 
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REALLY - Posts: 699
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:12 pm
I have approached all my kids that play the infield and told them if they wanted a mask the team would pay for them. This season my entire pitching staff (3), one third basemen and both first base will be wearing a mask. All paid from team account. I also bought an extra one just in case I can get the other third base to wear it. I saw a girl get hit in the face two years ago and I will do everything in my power to make sure they are protected. I love coaching the game of Softball and could not live with myself if I didn't do everything in my power to protect my player's.
Also, please spend time on sliding practice. I see a lot of girls that still don't know how to slide. They need to be properly shown because some bases around Houston are not break away bags. They will tear up an ankle or knee. Just my two cents.
Also, please spend time on sliding practice. I see a lot of girls that still don't know how to slide. They need to be properly shown because some bases around Houston are not break away bags. They will tear up an ankle or knee. Just my two cents.
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txfastptchcoach - Posts: 442
- Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:37 am
Spazsdad wrote:Joe wrote:So it's okay to choose not to use a carseat for your child?
Non of our parents did
I thought the ledge in the back of Grandma's malibu between the main seat and the window was third row seating until I was 10-12 yrs old
In the immortal words of the great Spazsdad "Don't get all butt hurt"
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REALLY - Posts: 699
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:12 pm
Really:
I did not put Mr. Moyers comments on here to debate parental rights. Just providing some additional information for thought. And frankly, who cares how many games he has coached? This would be a decison of common sense, not strategy.
If a parent is stupid enough to put their child in danger over a game that is their "right". My daughter does not play one of the targeted positions (P, 1B, 3B) although she does play infield a large majority of the time. If she played one of those positions you can bet your backside her safety would rank way above any other argument I would have for not wearing one. I, for one, would not want the guilt of knowing an idiotic choice I made over a "right" had a life-changing impact on my child such as blindness, brian damage or, God-forbid, death.
Does Spazdad have the "right" to make stupid decisions...you bet! He can arogantly state his "rights" as a parent all day long and I have no argument against his "right" to do so. I just hope he has great insurance to back up those decisions if his daughter is ever severely injured because of his "right". I also hope he finds that "right" worth it should something ever, knock on wood, happen to his daughter beyond a minor bump or bruise. I sure would not want to have to explain to my daughter after a major facial injury that I am sorry she was hurt, but I could not make myself have her wear a mask because it went against my "rights" and her "freedoms".
Now how about turning this thread back over to concern over the girl that was injured in Beaumont? My thoughts are with her family and I wish her a speedy recovery.
I did not put Mr. Moyers comments on here to debate parental rights. Just providing some additional information for thought. And frankly, who cares how many games he has coached? This would be a decison of common sense, not strategy.
If a parent is stupid enough to put their child in danger over a game that is their "right". My daughter does not play one of the targeted positions (P, 1B, 3B) although she does play infield a large majority of the time. If she played one of those positions you can bet your backside her safety would rank way above any other argument I would have for not wearing one. I, for one, would not want the guilt of knowing an idiotic choice I made over a "right" had a life-changing impact on my child such as blindness, brian damage or, God-forbid, death.
Does Spazdad have the "right" to make stupid decisions...you bet! He can arogantly state his "rights" as a parent all day long and I have no argument against his "right" to do so. I just hope he has great insurance to back up those decisions if his daughter is ever severely injured because of his "right". I also hope he finds that "right" worth it should something ever, knock on wood, happen to his daughter beyond a minor bump or bruise. I sure would not want to have to explain to my daughter after a major facial injury that I am sorry she was hurt, but I could not make myself have her wear a mask because it went against my "rights" and her "freedoms".
Now how about turning this thread back over to concern over the girl that was injured in Beaumont? My thoughts are with her family and I wish her a speedy recovery.
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Bring it - Posts: 135
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:27 am
Spazsdad wrote:tex wrote:WE AS PARENTS SHOULD PETITION THE MAJOR SOFTBALL AND LOCAL SOFTBALL ORGANIZATIONS TO ADOPT RULES TO MAKE IT MANITORY FOR THE 1ST 3RD AND PITCHER POSITIONS TO WEAR FACE PROTECTION.
No, you as parents should do as you see fit for your child and leave others to do the same. How about I come to your house and decide what you have for dinner because I know what is best for you?
I think the most important decision a parent should make is whether or not their kid should play softball. As far as the governing bodies creating rules for the safety of the kids, we can either follow the rules or choose not to play. Nobody is forcing anybody to play. Sometimes these rules get enacted when a tragedy happens. And that goes for all sports high school, college, and pro. For anyone to say a safety rule shouldn't be enacted "in the name of parental rights" doesn't fly with me. With that said, I'm not so sure we need the mandatory mask thing but I would not be strongly opposed to it either.
- dirtqueen
- Posts: 18
- Joined: Sun Sep 06, 2009 8:29 pm
Bring it wrote:Really:
I did not put Mr. Moyers comments on here to debate parental rights. Just providing some additional information for thought. And frankly, who cares how many games he has coached? This would be a decison of common sense, not strategy.
Simply joking about how many games we play out here in Texas not knocking Moyer or Your post
If a parent is stupid enough to put their child in danger over a game that is their "right". My daughter does not play one of the targeted positions (P, 1B, 3B) although she does play infield a large majority of the time. If she played one of those positions you can bet your backside her safety would rank way above any other argument I would have for not wearing one. I, for one, would not want the guilt of knowing an idiotic choice I made over a "right" had a life-changing impact on my child such as blindness, brian damage or, God-forbid, death.
Does Spazdad have the "right" to make stupid decisions...you bet! He can arogantly state his "rights" as a parent all day long and I have no argument against his "right" to do so. I just hope he has great insurance to back up those decisions if his daughter is ever severely injured because of his "right". I also hope he finds that "right" worth it should something ever, knock on wood, happen to his daughter beyond a minor bump or bruise. I sure would not want to have to explain to my daughter after a major facial injury that I am sorry she was hurt, but I could not make myself have her wear a mask because it went against my "rights" and her "freedoms".
Now how about turning this thread back over to concern over the girl that was injured in Beaumont? My thoughts are with her family and I wish her a speedy recovery.
Man sometimes people jump in here and immediately get offended....
2 posts in and you're already Butthurt...
In the immortal words of the great Spazsdad "Don't get all butt hurt"
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REALLY - Posts: 699
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2009 9:12 pm
That's all you got out of the posts?
Not butt-hurt in the least.
Not butt-hurt in the least.
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Bring it - Posts: 135
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 10:27 am
43 posts
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