Who is going to protect them?

In reponse to the first post about "seeing a knot buldge up on a kids forehead"....... well, I'm not a doctor, but I go know that if a human is hit in the head with a ball, bat, tree limb skiing, etc. and there "seems to be no signs of injury, BAM! go straight to the hospital, PERIOD.
Swelling is going to occur and if it goes into the head and affects the brain, its serious! Be safe, not sorry!

In a general reply to this thread, I'll say that just wearing a facemask is not the end of all ends as to protecting our kids.
I'm 100% in favor of facemasks.

I won't bore you with the details as what I'm fixing to post has been written numerous times on TBR....
my DDs facemask was a major factor in an injury to her some years back.
Watching your kids braces being pulled out of her lips is no day at the beach.
Make sure your kids equipment, all of it, fits her properly.
Mouthpeices are a must.
Chinstraps are the neglected items that need to be upgraded PDQ.
Not only mandatory use of them, but their design is begging for a problem.

Wish all the best
Fishman

 

Back in the day, and maybe even nowadays, battle scars were/are a badge of courage for the boys; not so for girls.

As far as why we care about a kid getting hurt or disfigured: when you coach these kids and even when you just watch them play you end up loving them as if they were your own. I know I'm not the only ones who knows that. Sometimes you don't realize how much they mean to you until tragedy strikes. When people are promoting safety for kids that are not their own that is not unexpected at all and I believe highly commendable. I thank everyone who cares enough to express their concerns when a kid is at any kind of risk.

I saw two kids this weekend get hit in the batting helmet cage and I thought about all the argument there used to be against those cages. Those cages are just the norm now.

Never underestimate how much a parent or a coach cares about players who are not necessarily theirs' by blood!

 

Seeing is believing....

I witnessed this very thing weekend before last at my youngest daughter’s (12u) tournament. One of our girls hit a line drive shot, on a rope, right back at the pitcher and hit the young lady directly in the face unobstructed. I was really surprised how much force the ball had on impact. It threw the young lady’s head violently backward, like whiplash. There was a collective gasp from both sides as everyone watched as the young lady when down….
Our batter was sure upset when she was thrown out at 1st by the pitcher. Yes, the pitcher went down but it was to retrieve the ball which had bounced off of her face guard and not only did she get it, she had enough composure to stay with the play and get our runner out. The game continued with no interruption. To be honest with you, I can not even remember if anyone stopped and ask the young lady if she was OK. I guess since she came up throwing and got the out everyone assumed she was fine. On another point, my oldest daughter’s primary position is catcher (approximately 3 years). There has been many games behind the plate during this time and she has told me more than once that her helmet, chest protector, leg guards are hot, binding, annoying, aggravating, and get in her way but one thing she has not told me is that she is going to leave them in the dugout when she goes back on the ball field. I can not remember any catcher ever wanting to enter the game without the above mentioned equipment. I can not remember any parents up in arms about their or their daughter’s choices being violated by wearing catcher’s gear. I have not seen any umpires shedding any gear because their choices have been violated. Step out a little farther and pretend you know nothing about the game and this is the first time you are seeing this event taking place. To me I would find it very strange to see one person standing by themselves with a ball and glove, nothing else, at one end of a straight line. On the other end of this line looking back is not one but three people and they are all wearing helmets, some have chest protectors, leg guards, shoe guards and the last thing it appears like is they want to be hit by the ball the one from the other end is throwing. Believe me, I hate to be told what and what not to do just as much as the next one. However, since you are referring to choice, I would choose to not have my day interrupted by having to see the inside of a young lady’s head or her lying motionless on a ball field because their parents thought little Suzy was too good to let this happen to her. In retrospect, I would be willing to bet the young lady I witnessed weekend before last does not mind a little piece of lexan(?) anymore if she minded it before….

 

Ok, why not get our DD's dressed in football and hockey gear and lets play softball. We would not have to worry about any injuries at all. Of course they would look silly running around in all this gear, but no one would get hurt. Wait, there may be pulled or torn hamstrings, sore muscles. Lets just drop all of softball and play it on play station or wii or what ever.
I am stating what I feel should be done about game faces (masks) as everyone here is. What does a catcher wearing a chest protector and shin guards got do to with this thread. If your point is that its part of the game, fine its been part of the game for a long time, but do the other players wear them on the playing field? I have no problem what others say about wearing a game face. No problem if they make it mandatory. I don't mind if your DD wears one. Just don't force it on me. If and when it becomes mandatory, we will go from there.

 

Don't know you

I don't know you or your DD. When the day comes and your DD takes a line drive in the head, mouth or ear and she might not have a face mask on. Let's hope that there are people there to make it their business and lend a helping hand to comfort your DD. I'm glad the state of NC said wear seat belts. I saw a young man die this past weekend because he did not have his buckled, yes it was his choice.

 

Why would someone not want there daughter to wear one; if it might protect them in the future?

Almost everyone is so intent on shoving this down my throat because I don't agree with you on having my DD wear a mask. You have talked about seatbelts in cars. OK! How many of you drive your POV's and talk on your cell phones while putting everyone in your vehicle and vehicles around you in danger. You talk on your phone with your DD in your car, family, friends, other vehicles around you, but you continue doing it. There are more statistics of injury and DEATH from YOU people using cell phones while driving who don't care about others then the statistics on girls getting hit in the face while playing softball.. I have driven to Tournaments seeing team names on vehicles while the driver is talking on his/her cell phone not paying attention and cutting someone off, but is oblivious to what is going on around them..
So what you are saying is, you do not care about the safety of your family, DD's teammates, people in other vehicles, but you are going to preach to me about the safety of wearing a mask. Take a good look in the mirror before you start telling me what I should do because you think its a safety issue.
Oh, and by the way, I don't carry a cell phone. Everyone on here who knows me knows that I don't carry a cell phone because I hate to be bothered.

 

i see your point.

I do believe its up to the player and parents on whether or not a kid wears a mask.
Some do Some dont.

Never preached anything down your throat just saying
I dont know why a parent would not want there kid to wear one.
its just another piece of equipment to protect people's kids.


by the way i think their coming up with a law for the whole cell phone while driving thing
:]