Fastpitch Change

Yep

I agree that paramedics should be a requirement! We saw an umpire collapse last summer and it took 45 minutes for rescue squad to arrive. We had a player yesterday turn as white as a sheet, struggle to walk, one of my parents is a PA and handled things, could have been worst.
Now on the mask, changing ball, etc. Any stats on number of kids, hits, throws, times at bats, etc that take place every day of every tournament in the US? How does that compare to the number of kids hit by a batted ball?
How many kids are in an auto accident a day? How many fall down the steps? How many get shot? How many take drugs, drink, etc.? Are we protecting them to the max?
My point is you can regulate your self to dead and still kids will get hurt if they play games, drive cars, bikes, skate boards, etc. Ask the kids what they want? No we make decision based on one incident or two and want to change the world. Mask are fine, I have a pitcher that wears one and if all my kids wear one that would be fine but that is their decision and the decision of their parent!

 

Thankfully, very serious injuries are extremely rare. The cost of keeping an emergency unit at each venue would probably be cost prohibitive. I suggest maybe getting any medical personnel who are attending the tournaments to check in with the directors in case they are needed. Maybe even offer free admission to those folks.

I recall one year in Roxboro where our catcher had her two front teeth knocked completely out in pre-game warmup. We were not aware that there was a dentist in attendance. We put her teeth in ice (couldn't find milk) and a rescue unit took her to Duke. They put them back in but they didn't take and she lost them. The dentist who was there said later they should have been put back in as soon as they were knocked out.

There are trainers at HS games. UNC-C and Mallard Creek venues had licensed PTs during the State Games. And they were needed at least twice that I know of.

 

I am a coach and a paramedic. I can't tell you how many times I have been moved out of the way while trying to help a kid because I was from the "opposite" team. I don't care what color uniform the person has on, I am no longer a coach, but someone there to help. I do agree that there needs to be someone present to help in case of an emergency. Hopefully that issue will be addressed sooner rather than later. I know that it will become a cost issue, but I don't think anyone will mind helping pay for that service.

 

...hey hurdle, fishman here, nice to meet you...............now lets see about 43 ft in HS, makes sense to me. why on earth would the distance of 43', mandated by the NCAA, not be used to train the up and coming kids in HS?
I'm no math wize but I know this much, no way in hell or half of Georgia will an extra 3 feet, 40' to 43' create an advantage by a hitter. OK, 43' the hitter drops back in the box, say facing a riseball pitcher. The ball cruises out of the strikezone column.
40' the batter moves up in the box facing the same riseball pitcher and hits the ball before it cruises north.

Should the NCAA or HS, etc raise the goal in basketball to 12 ft.?

Obviously not.

Rule changes are commonplace in sports. We can only hope the powers that "be" use some common sense!

Fish

 

Follow up

Just a little info on the pitching distance for that Rock Hill tournament that our player was line drived to the face was at 43". The braces in her mouth did the most damage and the mouth piece in her mouth was damaged. Not sure if the distance or ball size would change much at all. These kids are hitting the ball hard and things happen before you get a chance to react. Luckily, this player returned to the field this past weekend for the NSA State games in Rock Hill after having stitches removed Friday. Tough kid!!!