Facemasks

.....are they required in HS for batters? I know that chinstraps are.
Why do many kids in college choose to not have them ?

Fish, out of pocket $10,000 in braces for my DDs, lol, but they'll have a mask!

Is not having a facemask such an advantage for the hitter? Whats your thoughts TBR?

 

No question facemasks are distracting for a hitter or fielder...but they sure are safer and that's a good thing.

But Fish, you're an ol' time batter. Can you imagine wearing a facemask?

 

Yes, face masks with chin straps are required in HS. That's a great rule! I have noticed that the chin straps were not really being enforced this year, though.

I think most of the TB sanctions also require face masks.

I saw a few girls in the NCAA wearing face masks, also. But it's not required, of course.

I am very happy to say I have seen a few kids get hit in the face mask without anything any more serious than a small cut. Those were by pitched balls and balls fouled off into the face.

I also saw at least one pitcher who wore a mask while pitching in the NCAA playoffs. Great idea; good model for the younger kids!

 

....not a batter,...a hitter brother! lol and if I did not wear a facemask I'd be the guy being shot out of the cannon at the circus! Homey would waller all they across the edges of the tent.
I don't know, obviously, but it seems to me that if a kid is pitching from 40 feet in HS and then they go to college and pitch from 43 feet, then thats not "teaching" the game. example intended......

I'm sorry TBR, but for the love of mike, I can't see where a facemask deters the vision of a hitter, and even if it does it beats the hell out of having your braces cut out of your lips. Trust me, I saw LW go through hell on that one.

Phreak once said that it might be possible that the facemask actually gives a batter more focused, I'm with him.

Marlin

 

Facemask? Absolutely!!

There is no reason not to wear a cage while batting. I know my DD always did. I've never gone a season (and I've been watching since fastpitch came to NC) without seeing at least one girl injured as a result of not having a mask on. The most common occurrence is either bunting or fouling the ball into the face. Saw it twice this season. One, a very bloody broken nose and the other resulted in a concussion that ended the players 'games started' streak three short of a school record.

The vision excuse for not wearing the mask is B.S. . . . . sort of like "I'm not wearing a seatbelt because it's uncomfortable".

 

one rule

I have one rule in regard to face masks in my program....

You either wear one or you don't bat...
No negotiation....

 

Chin straps?

I didn't know that chin straps were required in HS. Thanks for the info. If DD had been wearing one when she was plunked, perhaps the helmet would have stayed on her head and prevented the busted lip. THANK GOD for the facemask she was wearing!!! In our last playoff game, the helmet came off a baserunner due to no chin strap and I don't believe the ump said anything. I believe that any rule that is for safety of the athletes should be enforced.

 

My hitters wear their batting helmets on all hitting drills to get more repetition with the masks. The more repetition the less they realize they even have a mask.

 

chin straps in HS

We as umpires are not requiring chin straps to be on batter's helmets because a rule does not exist requiring them in HS as of yet.

I do agree whole heartidly with the facemask rule. Facemasks have saved numerous batter's faces this year just in the games I have umpired and spectated.

Some or at least one TB assoc. requires chin straps, but I can't remember which.

 

Don't be too thankful yet, you have been misinformed. There are no rules in HS that require a chin strap on batter's helmets.

Don't be so quick to blame the umpire for not checking equipment or enforcing the rules, when in this case the rule does not exist.

Parents need to take some responsibility for their child's safety as well. There is some contact in this sport and the balls are not soft as the name implies.
If you feel that chin straps need to be on the helmet then put one on your DD's helmet don't wait for a rule to be written requiring you to do so.

My DD wore a chin strap during her HS years.