Who is going to protect them?

I was reminded again this weekend of several incidents involving girls who take a line drive to the head without protective gear, and the overbearing parents who refuse to take it seriously until a golf ball size knot forms on their DD's forehead or the face swells to an unnatural size. There was one incident when a DD had a concussion and her Mom was calling the team coach from the ER about returning to the tournament, even if it was just to watch. Although there are many who are pro choice when it comes to protective gear, don't we have a responsibility to make sure that when a girl gets a line drive to the head she should come out of the game for her own safety and take the rest of the day off, even if her parents disagree with it?

 

I remember several years ago when a girl at Myrtle Beach on 2nd base was hit by a line drive. That YL came close to losing her eyesight, and doctors said it could have killed her. So when is it going to be mandatory to do something to protect these kids?

 

It should be mandatory for pitchers and 3rd basemen to wear a protective mask IMO!!

 

yep

Mine plays 3rd and pitches and wears a mask. She says its ok/no problem. Especially with about $6000.00 of metal on her teeth also.

 

There will be no mandatory face shields until the insurance industry raises the rates for facial injuries.

IMHO, this is a family issue, not an issue for someone else to regulate upon my family.

 

face masks

I agree it starts with the parents. My DD is 12 , pitches and plays first, she wears one. She doesn't get a choice in the matter. Parents need to worry more about DD and less about what the middle school, highschool or college coach will think. Take care of DD's, they are not replaceable. Also, think about what the injuries will do to their bodies as they age.

 

After I saw a pitcher get hit in the face in salisbury and they picked her teeth up off the mound my dd started wearing a game face and has ever since, she was ten then and she's sixteen now. I've heard people say that college coaches look down on it, they say teach them how to catch a ball and locate their pitches. I have seen D1,D2 and D3 pitchers get hit. The ball comes back to quick sometimes to be able to react. It makes no since to me that anyone would look down on a player that uses a protective device that could save their life or face. JMO

 

as I said in another post would you even want your DD playing for a coach who had issues with wearing a mask?

hit your spots? has Greg Maddux ever missed his spot?

I recall watching Cal St Fullerton in Omaha years ago and their coach was very aggressive in teaching his players to lean into the pitch. One of his players took one right on the cheekbone. Unbelievably he came back to the dugout before the end of the game after an ER visit... ostensibly I imagine to show the coach how tough he was. He look like he had put his head between a hammer and an anvil! I thought then and there thats not the kind of coach I would want mine playing for.

This is a no brainer... wear a mask!

 

Why is everyone so concerned what someone else is doing. If you want your DD to wear a mask, fine, then make her wear one. If someone else does not want there DD to wear a mask, leave them alone. Look after your own and stop pushing others to do what you want. Just because some players have gotten hit in the face, does not make it mandatory that everyone else wear masks. Do we care more for our daughters who play softball then for our sons who play baseball? How come baseball players do not wear masks?

 

I guess from my side of the fence, I just hate to see a DD get an unnecessary head injury. But accidents and injuries happen all the time. What can you do. As far as the boys, my guess is when you go and read the testimonials about the game faces, it's all girls they are referring to. You do make a good point about pro choice, which I addressed in my original thread. Why should I care about another player getting her head knocked in with a softball, as long as it's not mine. I guess I just need to mind my own business.