Message board »Message Board home »Sign-in or register to get started
Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 87 anonymousDiscussion: Required Face Masks
| Posted | Discussion |
| March 13, 2015 BHC Rec-ing Crew 6 posts | Required Face Masks Due to growing concerns over safety in our events, the Bullhead City Spring and Fall Senior Softball tournaments will be requiring the pitcher to wear a protective face-mask at all times. Most players already do, however it will no longer be optional. I am working on the verbiage for how the rules should be stated. Can anyone provide me with the rules that other tournaments use concerning this face mask requirement? Are there equipment specifications that must be met? Thanks for your input! Ry-Guy |
| March 13, 2015 SSUSA Staff 3490 posts | Ry-Guy - The SSUSA Rulebook provisions governing pitcher's mandatory use of a face mask and other relevant provisions regarding "recommended" protective equipment are at §6.17 and following on pages 36-37 of the Rulebook. There is an online version of the Rulebook that can be accessed from the RULES page of this website. |
| March 13, 2015 hemi racer Men's 65 237 posts | I'm not a pitcher and never had to fool with a mask, but just this week a pitcher at the Montgomery tournament is thanking our LORD today he had one on. |
| March 13, 2015 LP 317 posts | We require the pitcher to wear a mask in league play. Corpus Christi, TX. |
| March 13, 2015 JDub Men's 60 206 posts | Whew, Yah Hey, Let's Not Think about Toning Down our Precious Senior Bats (LOL) ! ! ! |
| March 14, 2015 garyheifner 649 posts | At the Huntsman games last year, I saw "3" guys being helped for medical care on day one with face injuries due to batted balls. Nope, sorry bat haters, they were fielders, not pitchers, who took bad hops. I pitch about 1/3 of our games. Just a suggestion for Ry-Guy. Not only the masks but encourage the pitchers to get the helmet-mask combos. I took two hard shots off the helmet last year. Nope, not due to hot bats. Both were what should have been fielded grounders that hit the pitching rubber and shot up while I was going down to block/field the ball. Won't pitch without the helmet. |
| March 14, 2015 Mango Men's 50 159 posts | How about toning down the balls? The easiest fix for directors to control the safety of the game. Second easiest fix is getting rid of rules that encourage power hitters to hit the ball down ( return to the dead ball walk) |
| March 14, 2015 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | garyheifner, what makes you think that only pitchers are at risk with the hot bat/ball combo so prevalent today? My infielders have also taken a beating (broken nose, elbow, etc.) and now two of them wear masks. A bad hop coming off a single wall is often fieldable (and skilled infielders have been fielding them for decades) but a bad hop off a hot bat, or a ball that hits the pitching rubber coming at excessive speed because of the composite bat also cause damage. It's not just pitchers at risk, but all infielders. Outfielders seldom get hit, they just wear out chasing balls on 300+ outfield because of the hot bats. JDub has it right—hot bats have made the game more dangerous and more taxing than ever, especially for older players. And I agree with you, that it is time to wear a helmet-mask combo if you want better protection. |
| March 14, 2015 Tim Millette 615 posts | Everyone knows that the bat/ball combos are to hit for any senior divisions. unfortunaetly..nothing is going to change. With that said...if your pitching without a helmet/face guard your putting your life at risk. This might sound a little uncaring but...if a pitcher gets killed or seriously injured because of a shot to hit head while NOT wearing a helmet/face guard...it's his own damn fault...I will be sorry he died but...he did it to himself. I also think a light chest protector should be warn. |
| March 15, 2015 Capt Kirk 541 posts | Our league does not require a pitcher to wear a mask. We have some heavy hitters, that can really rip the ball. Can a softball exceed 100 mph when traveling from the batter's box to the pitcher's rubber (50 ft)? Capt Kirk |
| March 15, 2015 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | capt kirk....yes it can....it gives approx 0.3 seconds to react at 50'...yes less than a half a second.......i wear my mask at all times when in the dirt...whether pitching or the inf...... |
| March 15, 2015 Fred S Men's 85 297 posts | If I remember right the original Ultra II's were clocked at 114 MPH which is why they were banned in ASA. |
| March 15, 2015 bkb555 301 posts | kind of a no brainer on wearing helmet and mask combo...we use U-trip bats in our senior league and have seen pitchers hit by balls at very fast speeds ..i can only imagine same scenario with a senior bat....most pitchers wear masks now but there are a few strays out there......only smart way is to wear one |
| March 15, 2015 cyborg45 Men's 75 194 posts | Pitchers,and other infielders should wear appropriate protection. I may be in the minority here, but I like the game as is. It supposed to be somewhat dangerous. If you ask the average Joe what slowpitch softball is about, he will tell you it's a game played by girls, or overweight guys that are drunk. This is a game, at least in tournaments, that is played with very good athletes with skills that have been honed over many years. Most of us accept the fact, and actually like, that the ball is going to be hit over 100 mph. Wear good protection. |
| March 15, 2015 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | I agree with cyborg45 that softball is supposed to be somewhat dangerous. It is part of its popularity. When I started pitching, the distance from home plate was 37 feet! Those of us who have played over the decades remember pitchers that got plunked, infielders hurt by bad hops, broken ankles by outfielders, and a variety of injuries from thrown balls or batted balls, even to the level of concussions. If we had access to the national statistics, there are probably several players a year who die on the field, most from head injuries. The risk of a broken bone was part of the game. But that was SOMEWHAT dangerous. The current conditions, where a ball is leaving the bat at 100 mph, is not somewhat but very dangerous. Tournament players are not all "very good athletes". They are older men and with age comes slowed reflexes, diminished sight, injured or strained bodies that no longer respond quickly. It's true their skills have been "honed over many years". But they were never honed to the point that they could handle the kind of speed we see today. Can you imagine a wooden bat sending a softball out that fast? Nope, not even with a hot ball. Protection has its limitations. Inadequate masks, lack of a chest protector, no leg guards, are leaving the pitchers, especially, vulnerable to the insane speeds of a batted ball. Watch a game with 65s or older and see how many infielders now wear a mask. How has this come about? That to play a game we love, one we have played for decades, we now have to be armored up for our safety. It's the bats! |
| March 16, 2015 Sparky.1 Men's 75 284 posts | Excellent direct point as always Omar. Been saying the same thing for the past few years but it always goes upon deaf ears. Money is the big factor with the individuals that "control" Senior Softball and the Bat Manufacturers completely in "bed" together and both pocketing a ton of $$$$$$$ with every "bat" sold! |
| March 16, 2015 Benji4 Men's 55 289 posts | Masks should be optional. What next no sliding, everyone uses the same bat, the right fielder can't use a glove, the catcher has to be left handed? We are all adults and should be given the choice. Pitchers know the risks. We all agree on the safety issue but people should decide for themselves not be told by some director. I can see Bullhead also making rules like if the game is tied in the second inning the visiting team gets extra runs or the home team has to play an inning with 8 players. Don't we have enough government control in our lives? |
| March 16, 2015 bkb555 301 posts | I disagree Benji....if the league says they are mandatory, then they should be...I play hockey, helmets are mandatory but not cages or masks....... I wear a mask, some guys wear visors, some guys wear nothing...I have NEVER seen a guy break his nose or split a lip or lose a tooth wearing a cage after getting hit by a puck or a stick or an elbow......we are mandated to wear hockey helmets, WHY???? because it protects not only the player but the players around them and also the rink and any other liable institutions.....the same goes with softball, if you don't like a rule, then it is time to move on to a different league...I am sure there are leagues out there with optional mask rules but in the end, the safety is most important with our current equipment....you only get a few chances if you get struck in the head with a ball.....if you don't bleed or get concussed or split open consider that your lucky day and get a mask and helmet....I got LUCKY 15 years ago with a puck to an unprotected, unmasked, uncaged eye......I considered that my one break in the sport..... now I don't have to worry about it and haven't since then.....signed, masked and caged bkb555 |
| March 16, 2015 DCPete 409 posts | Don't really understand what all this commotion is about w/batted-balls when 85%? of all on-field injuries have nothing to do with this. There are far more injuries from collisions, slips, falls or just aging old body parts giving out. |
| March 16, 2015 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | DC Pete, I'm thinking about the injuries my team has incurred in the last 100 tournaments (about 600 games). Pitcher hit by ball: 5-10 times 1B hit by batted ball: 8-10 times 2B hit by batted ball: 5-6 times SS hit by batted ball: 7-8 times 3B hit by batted ball: 9-10 times Outfielder hit by batted ball: 5-6 times Collision injury: 4 times hit by thrown ball: 5 times running injury (including slip/fall): 6 - 10 times Throwing injury: 1-3 times Catcher injured: 1 Summary: Hit by batted ball: 39 - 50 for average of 44 times (69%) All other injuries: 20 times (31%) Where did you come up with your statistic of 85% of all injuries are not from batted ball? Also, of my non-batted ball injuries, only 1 required first aid. Of the batted ball injuries, 5 required medical treatment. Breaking a bone/nose/eye socket or concussion are much worse than a scrape or twisted ankle or pulled muscle or tendon (the other non-batted ball injures). Fortunately, all of our collision injuries have only resulted in bruises. That's what the commotion is about. Only anecdotal for me. I would be interested in others' experiences. |
| March 17, 2015 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | Omar, all I can say if I was on a team like yours I would quit! your fielders suck!;-) Now, here is my observation... I played 40s and 50s major and plus 8years into Senior softball.. in all the games we have played, and we play about 14 to 16 tourneys a year.. two guys got hit.. one a pitcher and one a 3rd baseman.. bad hop hit the 3rd baseman and a shot right at the pitch by JK inc that ended the game as we beat them! We played against the biggest and strongest guys in the game... usually my team is associated with glove work! Not injuries from batted balls... BTW not one guy ever went to the hospital from a batted ball against us or on any of my teams! Facts |
| March 17, 2015 Daffster 5 posts | I am a home run hitter and I worry about hurting the pitcher and infielders though it would be an accident , so far I thankfully I haven't. I think the bats are way too hot and break easily for power hitters which is expensive. I have seen this discussion for years. I have a suggestion : SSUSA should send out a survey to the players about the use of the hot 1.21 rated bats and get a real statistical feedback done. It should not be a $$$ issue for bat manufacturers but decided by the players. Maybe it will not be overwhelming either way but if hot bats are voted against by say a 75% majority it should require serious consideration to change something. I like to see good defense and the distance the outfielders plays is all related to the hot bats ... so you can attempt hit it apast them with any bat/ball combination. |
| March 17, 2015 DCPete 409 posts | Omar; duly noted. Our team's injury history has been closer to that of Swings so maybe everyone's is slightly different. We've had a couple of batted-ball injuries at Pitcher & 3rd base but thankfully nothing serious. We've had too many injuries to count from pulled or even torn hamstrings & 1 OF-SS collision in particular resulting in a broken jaw for 1 and an ER visit to get their forehead stitched up for the other. |
| March 17, 2015 Omar Khayyam 1357 posts | Yes, Swing, there's nothing like seeing a power hitter slightly miss hit your pitch, turning to watch it float toward your fielder, the fielder taps his glove…and the ball misses his glove and hits him right in the face! I've seen you play outfield and you are welcome to play for my team anytime. All you need is 15-20 years more "experience" on you to qualify. :=) |
| March 17, 2015 swing for the fences Men's 50 1224 posts | Ha Omar,, let's not rush things.... ;-) |
| March 18, 2015 Capt Kirk 541 posts | Correction: IS: Our league does not require a pitcher to wear a mask. We have some heavy hitters, that can really rip the ball. Can a softball exceed 100 mph when traveling from the batter's box to the pitcher's rubber (50 ft)? Capt Kirk SB: Our league does not require a pitcher to wear a mask. We have some heavy hitters, that can really rip the ball. Can a softball exceed 100 mph when traveling from the batter's box to the pitching rubber (50 ft)? Capt Kirk |
| March 18, 2015 Capt Kirk 541 posts | What is the best slow pitch softball pitcher protection mask/helmet? Some of the infielder's mask don't seem to have adequate protection for a pitcher. Our pitcher has purchased a pitcher's helmet that is designed specifically to protect the pitcher. Capt Kirk |
| March 18, 2015 JDub Men's 60 206 posts | There are a lot of ReallyGood Points here, and we all know, You can't Please Everyone ! ! ! JDub: Today's Bats are STOOOPID! Mango: Ball Selection is the easiest fix for directors to control the safety of the game. Second easiest fix is getting rid of rules that encourage power hitters to hit the ball down (return to the dead ball walk) Omar: JDub has it right—hot bats have made the game more dangerous and more taxing than ever, especially for older players! Millette: Everyone knows that the bat/ball combos are TOO HOT for any senior division. If your pitching without a helmet/face guard your putting your life at risk. If a pitcher gets killed or seriously injured because of a shot to the head while NOT wearing a helmet/face guard...it's his own damn fault! FredS: If I remember right the original Ultra II's were clocked at 114 MPH which is why they were Banned! bkb555: kind of a no brainer on wearing helmet and mask combo! Benji4: Masks should be Optional! We are all adults and should be given the choice. Pitchers know the risks. We all agree on the safety issue but people should decide for themselves not be told by some director. bkb555: I disagree Benji....if the league says they are mandatory, then they should be! Here's my take in summary: When I was 12 a good friend of mine shot me in the eye and I am blind because of it. He's a Dumb Ass, but it was an Accident! Fred, in 2002 I was the Pitcher that was Beaned by the Original Ultra II. You all have me to Thank for the Banning of the Original Ultra II! I haven't found a Mask/Helmet that doesn't Limit my Vision due to my Blindness, so I personally prefer not wearing one. I get a lot of, "You're Krazy for Pitching" and I'd have to Agree, but that's what I Do! The Issue is supposed to be Safety First! But these STOOOPID BATS aren't going away (YET)! Sanctions are trying to Protect Pitcher's, and Protect themselves from any Hint of Liability and/or Litigation! But in the end, I'm with Benji4, Masks should be Optional! We are all adults and should be given the choice. Pitchers know the risks. We all agree on the safety issue but people should decide for themselves . . . Have Fun, Be Safe, Jeff White #7 AZ Elite 50/55M+ p.s. I Do Not Apologize for the long post, as it is "IMHO." |
| March 19, 2015 garyheifner 649 posts | This subject has been covered many times. However, it still has merit to discuss. Thots!! Too many pitchers pitch and do not get into a defensive stance but rather just stand there, hands at their side. The ball is in the air quite a while. How about a little knee bend. Glove open and up towards the chest. Expect every ball to be hit at you. With the pitching helmet/mask I wear, I feel very comfortable at that position. Infielder injuries, hot bats or bad hops off infields that are poorly groomed? I don't play infield but if I did, I would wear a mask. I also have a mask not attched to my helmet. I will wear that in the outfield anytime I am looking into the sun. Think of all the sports that have left the macho era behind and adopted wearing head protection as their games have evolved with hotter equipment. Why is it a problem if senior softball follows suit. For you younger guys, my team moved up to 70s last year. With that 11th guy at middle infielder around 2nd base, not many balls go up the middle especially with runners on base. You might look into that. |
