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Online now: 1 member: Tater1022; 14 anonymousDiscussion: Legislating Safety
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| May 28 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I started this under the why? thread and was unable to get in on the why2 thread-computer wouldn't let me, so I'll start a new one. This is what I wrote on that one: Omar-we play a this game at a reasonably high level. Every one of us knows that there is a possibility of getting hurt every time we step on the field. An errant throw, a bad hop, a misplayed good hop, a knuckle ball that dips and swoops and you can't even get out of the way of it, a bat slipping out of a batters hands while swinging, a collision at a base on a play, stepping in a rut and pulling a muscle or worse, running into a fence, diving for a ball, sliding into a base, running out an infield grounder trying to beat it out and pulling a muscle, an mistimed high five or chest bump, a stupid play (how many of us have been injured in a play that someone, or even you did something really stupid? I have!), and the list goes on and on. If you are so afraid of getting hurt, WEAR THE PROTECTION! I choose not to, not because of any macho thing, but because I find helmets cumbersome. If you mandate a helmet for all runners, then you are also mandating it for hitters, because as soon as you hit the ball fair, you become a batter/runner. I do wear a cup all of the time in the outfield or even EH-ing. I have been hit there numerous times, even running bases. My Choice. Speed has been (not necessarily any more LOL) a big part of my game. Equipment slows you down. I do not want to run onto the field feeling like I'm entombed in a safety suit. I like the fact this has been left to personal choice. I hope it remains as such. Mad dog-while I understand the feeling in some people to legislate safety to save even ONE LIFE, that idea is totally unworkable. If you legislated against everything in life that cost even one life, you would be legislating against so many things that we would be unable to do anything. For one, any spectators at a game are at risk of getting hit by an errant throw or batted ball. If hit just right, they could die. Do you legislate no spectators any more? Where do you draw the line? I certainly would mandate a cup, before a helmet. But, the protection is available to all at a reasonable price, so why make people protect themselves. Maybe that is the key point. To what extent can you FORCE people to protect themselves? From the feedback, I would say most wish the freedom make their own decision as to what constitutes a life threatening danger to them on the field. |
| May 28 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | hey web,we had our lives legislated all along for safety,aka speed limits on highways,seat-belts,all sports using new and better safety devices/equipment for their sports.so it would be no difference.yes the helmet would start with the batter having to wear it. like i have said one life is worth it..... |
| May 28 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Mad dog-then you also must be for wearing full body protection in a car every time you drive. There is absolutely no question that it would save lives in an accident, probably a lot of them. One life is worth it?... |
| May 28 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | Webbie25, Your post on top is right on it......thanks for posting. |
| May 28 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Rule 3.7 A Masks May be worn by infielders, MUST be worn by pitchers. --- Helmets offense or D may wear them of similar color to team caps... Like that really happens... So, in essence as a PITCHER you either wear a mask or you do not play. Afraid of the ball or not, wear one or play another position. Some equip is cumbersome and the added weight could be a problem also, but they do protect you. |
| May 28 tg69 393 posts | Do this.Start your own leaugue and call it SENIOR SOFTBALL HELMET LEAGUE and see what kind of participation you get. |
| May 28 salio2k Men's 60 547 posts | A lot of guys won't even wear a hat to protect themselves from those deadly rays. A lot of lives could be saved if we all wore hats while outdoors! Forget about showing us how much hair you still might have. |
| May 28 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | taits, The rule your talking about has NEVER BEEN ENFORCED IN TEXAS !My pitcher has never worn a mask or was ever ask to wear one or he couldn't pitch, ever in all the tournamnets we have played in the last several years . |
| May 28 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | That doesn't surprise me because i see others as well as well and some gear that only 'protects' the facial portion rather that what was specified long ago with the advent of the 'rule'. |
| May 28 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | well i do know if you play a ssusa tourneys,it is either wear protection or sign a wavier,don't care what state you play in.... web your idea of full body protection is really already in place,seat belts,air bags,car designs that won't crush in on you with out substantial force,etc... also safety is for what might happen or what has happen in the past,no one ever knows if they will need it,you just can't say that you will.it is a preventive measure,as all safety precautions are. sal i'm with you on that,i have to wear something to protect my solar panel...LOL you playing in reno,i'll be there at golden eagle with the 60's spurs. |
| May 28 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | As usual, that is not what taits said..he said "mask must be worn by pitchers", never said one thing about signing a waiver.He also stated,if your a pitcher ,wear a mask or do not play............... |
| May 28 salio2k Men's 60 547 posts | mad dog....you're right about the waiver for SSUSA tournaments. I'm on the injured reserve right now. Have a bad wheel, only dreaming of playing again. Good luck in Reno. |
| May 28 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | sad pup, clearly you are free to wear whatever you choose. That being said, why do you care what everyone else wears or doesn't? |
| May 28 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | as usual nothing to add,rule is for ssusa is that you must wear protection(mask and shin guards)or sign a wavier,what what of that don't you understand.maybe ask your coach..... as for caring,i don't want to see a fellow softball player go down,when there is things to prevent it,such as changing to a softball that would prevent such,or the wearing of safety equipment. sal sorry to hear that,get well soon..... |
| May 29 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | salio2k, All I was saying is what tait said in his message about "pitchers having to wear the mask" . But the last several tournaments we played in, they were not even ask to sign the waiver. He didn't say one thing about signing the waiver ! Fat Dog.........I don't have to ask my coach........it seems like the rules change from tournament to tournament ! |
| May 29 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Mad Dog-I was talking about 'gearing up' like a nascar driver every time you drive-how many lives would it save? And the cars should be mandated to be as safe in a crash as nascar cars. Of course, nobody could afford one. Nobody ever wants to see a fellow softball player get hurt. I've been playing slowpitch for 43 years and will play a few more. I've seen guys get hurt and I've gotten hurt. I have been hit in the head by throws running the bases, and even once warming up. 4 knee operations (and close to a fifth one), major shoulder surgery, hernia surgery, broken wrist, broken arm in a collision at home in my younger days, many hamstring pulls, back injuries, butt injuries, injuries to my pride and ego for dumb things I did on the field, yes, injuries happen. But I do not want anybody legislating any more mandatory safety requirements for me on the field. I CHOOSE to use the equipment that I want to, and if I get hurt, it is MY responsibility and no one elses. If I die on the field, then I died playing the game I have loved for so many years. I hope my teammates and friends have a party and raise a few glasses of their favorite beverages and remember the good times! I've had a heck of a ride!! |
| May 29 #6 Men's 60 1173 posts | Webbie25, Very well said, take care of you ole self ! |
| May 29 taits Men's 65 4548 posts | Re: the gear. In Feb 1, 2010 read post at bottom, item #3 about the rule; Also during the 2011 committee meeting, it was "revoked", sort of, imo. 1.29C - HEADWEAR - Wearing ball caps for men changed from 'mandatory' to optional. But it isn't enforced evenly across the board for this as you well know just like most other rule depending ion the umps and TD at the time. Search the site for "staff" on the right side and you will see the pages to read on this issue. Boring, as one would say... lol, only that it isn't consistent. |
| May 29 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | By the way, mad dog-just because we disagree doesn't mean I don't still owe you a beer from the TOC!! |
| May 29 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | webbie i understand all about legislating,to me i will say it is up to the individual,but i would rather we be safe than sorry..if ya understand what i mean.....yeah you do owe me,so that is why your ducking the reno tourney....LOL...... and 6 you are still proving it..be proud...... |
| May 30 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | puppy, sorry I did not realize you are such a humanitarian. Or is it a busy body? Our saftey, or regrets, are our concern alone and not yours. It doesn't get much clearer or simpler than that. |
| May 30 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Yeah, mad dog-Reno and Dallas went the way of the dodo because of financial considerations and timing. I am missing being in Reno-what a fabulous time we had last year. On the other note-I would 'rather' see a lot of things in the country pertaining to personal accountability, but I don't believe they should be mandated. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. If you mandate helmets, with the best of intentions, it won't be too long before we need a personal force field to play ball. And it would have started with pitchers protection. (ooooooppps!) 'We need cameras on the streets because we can catch criminals in the act'. Now 'big brother' is everywhere, because we can't behave ourselves. Red light cameras--why not? I drive for a living and see drivers blatantly running lights all of the time. Except when the cameras are there. Dangerous stuff! But still big brother. I could go on and on, but have probably bored you to tears. One final thought-- "Our constitution and the other great documents were written 'by men of conscience FOR men of conscience'." As a society we have lost that conscience. |
| May 30 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Gary19-QUIT AGREEING WITH ME!!! It's no fun this way! LOL |
| May 30 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Webbie, I thought you would enjoy being on the right side. For once. LOL |
| May 30 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | webbie with the thought of not having any safety precautions for softball,then why have the red light camera's,hell why even have traffic lights,or any traffic laws.hey nascar went to the neck brace b/c of one accident(dale ernhart's),why when it was only one accident. i do agree with the personal accountability issue,but who do you know that if they injure someone on the ball field they would pay the medical bills of that person,unless sued..... not a humanitarian,just a human. |
| May 30 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | NO one should be paying anyone else's medical bills for a softbal injury. NONE! We ALL accept a risk, once again it is just that simple. |
| May 31 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | mad dog-your objective with the mandates is total safety. They fall far short with the regulations we have. Speed kills-why not have a 25 mile per hour national speed limit in conjunction with all of the safety feature required in a car by NASCAR. We could get the traffic deaths to zero. That's a lot of lives. Speeding? Sacrifice of your first born male child. Penalty for running one red light-total revocation of your drivers license as a menace to society. Reckless driving-death by slow torture. We will teach people to drive better! Grocery shopping-full body armor required in case the store is being held up by an armed robber, or possibly a tornado hits. Houses must be built like bomb shelters in case a meteor hits. Ridiculous?? Yes. Mad dog-you can't mandate total safety, you can't mandate personal morality, and you can't mandate personal responsibility. Let's go back to playing softball and forget about helmets. I am serious that I would not play if helmets were mandated. I would look for an organization that didn't mandate them and if it didn't exist-I would probably go golfing. Oh, I heard a guy got hit in the head by a wayward golf shot the other day and died. I guess we need helmets to golf, too. |
| May 31 DCPete 409 posts | Many of the worst slo-pitch injuries come from fielders smashing into each other going for a ball. Last year in Vegas our SS & LCF collided going for a pop-up. The SS ended up with a dislocated jaw & the LCF had to go to the ER for a dozen staples in his forehead (and he was already ugly, LOL). |
| May 31 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Sheesh, now are you advocating that you cannot chase balls that might 'intrude' on someone else's area of coverage to keep these collisions from happening? Just kidding-DCPete. I gotten a couple concussions myself from that happening. I'm still ugly, and now my brain works in mysterious ways (ask my wife). LOL |
| May 31 stick8 1992 posts | Webbie, I thought I was the only one who's brain works in mysterious ways. Glad to know I'm not alone! :) |
