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Online now: 1 member: TABLE SETTER 11; 81 anonymousDiscussion: Safety of the Game
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| Feb. 12, 2018 Boom Boom 1 Men's 60 12 posts | Safety of the Game How can SSUSA be serious about the safety of the pitcher but still use hot bats/balls (Rock)? Tell that to the player's widow... §6.17 • PITCHERS MANDATED MINIMUM SAFETY EQUIPMENT – In response to some pitchers asserting rule compliance by wearing “goggle style” minimally protective equipment, the area of the face that must be protected by a face mask was clarified – “Pitchers (only) MUST wear a face mask that covers the area of the face from above the eyes to the lower part of the chin. All players, including pitchers, are ENCOURAGED to wear the “recommended”, but not required, additional protective equipment.” • PASSED 12‐0 |
| Feb. 12, 2018 SS11 60 posts | In the 5yrs, I've been playing 40's, haven't heard of anyone being killed. The first year the mask wasn't even mandatory (yes I pitched a couple of times). It is a fine line of giving the customers (us players) what we want (good equipment), and ensuring safety. With some of the 40 yr olds, these bats with the Rock, is about equal to the USSSA Men's Major with their 225 testing bats and Stadium ZN. As guys get older, they obviously don't hit the ball as hard (without the right "supplements" or altered equipment). Once we start playing with the new microelectronics ball, we should see if the Rock remains, and if so for how long. In other associations we use classic M's in 40s which works well too. |
| Feb. 12, 2018 #19 Men's 70 302 posts | If you can't stand the heat ........ |
| Feb. 12, 2018 r4pitch 92 posts | there was a death in fla this fall..Not a senior..Lets wait till that happens???? The 50 and 60 major + hit it pretty good. As we age the reflex is not as fast..The bats are bad enough with the balls it is crazy.. |
| Feb. 12, 2018 jfsully 82 posts | https://www.news4jax.com/news/flori...r-tragic-incident-on-nocatee-softball-diamond Go do this test and tell me how well you would field a ball coming 100mph from 50 ft away, with 0.33 seconds to get your glove up: https://www.humanbenchmark.com/tests/reactiontime If you reduce the exit velocity to say 70mph off the bat .... you now get 0.487 seconds of reaction time at 50 feet … how many pass that test? If you can't you are putting yourself, your family, other players and your friends at risk .... FOR WHAT??? I commend the people who came up with buying the lacrosse helmets for our pitchers. Maybe its time to put egos aside and actually use them? (For those that say they have a screen, how many of pitchers actually move behind the safety of the screen?) “May be a view from some one who has been hit in the head would be educational. ASA, 52/300, back peddle 3-5 ft, hold glove right at my neck/ chin area. They said the sound of ball hitting my Worth helmet was almost at the same time of the sound coming off the bat. I saw the ball 3 ft from me - would of hit me in left eye. Ball hit face mask and rocked my head back, ball landed in right field. It sounds like a gun going off in your helmet. Result? Worth helmet did it's job. Nothing bent or cracked. I've used a worth helmet since they first came out.” (about the individual who died) “Someone who knows him said he usually wears a helmet but for some reason he went out that inning without it. My daughter took pictures of the proposal at the softball field if irc. She said he is a pretty good player. This wasn't some rec guy stepping three feet towards the plate to pitch. One of the pictures I saw of him he was holding a trophy shaped like a glove. I try to tell the guys I play with and against locally all the time, it only takes one time. Even if you don't die, having facial reconstructive surgery is life changing.” “That is my friend that died. I was/currently playing ball with him and have been for the last almost 15yrs. A terrible accident. He got married, went on his honeymoon, came back mid that week and played Saturday when he got hit. They air lifted him to Jax due to the severity of the injury where 2 weeks later he passed. His wife Taylor will have been married , gone a honeymoon and widowed in less than 30days. A true tragedy!!! May Greg R.I.P. and Taylor find the peace that she needs to cope with all of this. God Bless! All I can say, that if this tragedy keeps someone else from getting injured or causes someone else to lose their life, is it worth it. As I sit here on Christmas, knowing he will not be, his WIDOW beside herself kind of gets me in the feels. His background was he played ball all his life, played college ball (starter) and all. Played at a high level with exceptional hands AND if this could happen to him, it could happen to anyone. The game is just that A GAME..... I'm not trying to alter someones life by playing it. It has altered many lives as it is. Many associations are making adjustments (offering a screen or a helmet) to pitchers which in my opinion is great. That wasn’t the case here. Greg was a very experienced player. Great glove, quick hands, played SS, middle infielder and pitcher. In my 12 years of playing tournaments I’m pretty sure I saw him at every one and he played in multiple leagues as well. As Hacker stated earlier Greg pitched the ball, dropped back to cover the hole and the ball deflected off his glove. It’s a freak accident and a tragedy and my prayers go out to his wife and family. “ From other pitchers: “I know if a ball hits my mask I'm still going to get hurt, but not as bad as without the mask. The fact my temple area is still exposed concerns me because most of us do have a tendency to turn our heads. I caught a line drive right by my right cheek bone & ear this fall & I saw the ball go into my glove. The ball was headed right at my face until it curved slightly. I told my teammates I saw it all the way to my glove only because I didn't have time to close my eyes. Would have been a bad deal had a ball like that been hit at me in July. I was sick most of the month and my reaction times were often extremely slow, but I didn't always realize it. 3rd base is dangerous enough, but at least I am/should be in a ready position, unlike the pitcher who's also 15-20' closer to home. A few pitchers here wear helmets or masks, but not nearly enough.” “I've yet to take one off the helmet and Lord willing, it'll never happen. Still, I refuse to take the mound without a mask or chest guard. Had a gentleman take a line drive to the chest with a 52 in our league a few years back. He yelled "I'm ok, I'm ok" then collapsed to his death. Not sure if chest protection would have saved him or not.” “I saw a lacrosse helmet save a pitcher's life a few years ago. Line drive hit the front of the helmet right between the guy's eyes. It was hard enough to crack the helmet and still give the pitcher a concussion. This was a .44 400 ball too. I'm convinced the helmet saved him.” |
| Feb. 12, 2018 bigboy11 17 posts | So#19, I take it you don't pitch!! You should try it and lets see if you still say "if you can't stand the heat!! Probably a catcher!!! |
| Feb. 12, 2018 Boom Boom 1 Men's 60 12 posts | Here's the correct link from above: https://www.news4jax.com/news/911-caller-man-went-out-cold-after-being-hit-by-softball-on-nocatee-field Derek Jeter doesn't react fast enough to catch/stop a line drive at the pitcher or for that matter 3rd/1st baseman. Senior players don't back up like they did when they were younger. For safety sake, it doesn't make sense to use high powered batted and balls just to see some guys hit the ball 50-100 feet out of the park. Not so impressive to me. It's senior softball who are we trying to impress. Let's bring some defense back into the game of softball. |
| Feb. 12, 2018 Benji4 Men's 55 289 posts | Why do people come on this board and continually complain about safety and blame SSUSA. We all have choices, so if you think it's not safe then don't play. There is danger in every kind of hobby, sport or recreational activity. If you are afraid of injury you should probably take up another hobby like tennis. Oh wait my buddy just rolled his ankle playing tennis and needs a surgery. Maybe bowling. Oh wait I watched a guy drop the ball on his foot and get injured. For you guys complaining about safety maybe take up lawn bowling, curling, or ping pong. Quit blaming SSUSA for not caring. Everyone cares and people COMPETE at their own risk. Do you think our military, police and fire personnel say to themselves everyday no one cares about their safety and then quit their jobs? Nope they make the best of each situation being as safe as they can be by personal choice. Softball is not going change much. Bats aren't going to change balls aren't going to change either. If you want change then put up the $$$$$ and get your own association. But to come on here and talk crap that SSUSA doesn't care about safety is asinine. Nobody wants anyone to get hurt but the majority don't want the game changed. Make your choice to play or not play and if you are so afraid find a safer hobby, or move to Europe where everyone is afraid..... |
| Feb. 12, 2018 HAT MAN Men's 50 229 posts | One could also ask why Benji continues to come on this board and complain about people complaining and blaiming others. You know most of the comments here are players unhappy but yet you continue to complain about complainers. Take that sucka....... see you in st George?? Vinny |
| Feb. 12, 2018 Benji4 Men's 55 289 posts | Damn Vinny now people will think we aren't best friends. Haha. You know me not complaining but basically proving a point through colorful commentary. Guess I just never could understand why guys think things are so unsafe and still play the sport. Won't be in St. George still recovering from Achilles surgery. Good luck to you and the Tucson boys............. |
| Feb. 13, 2018 #19 Men's 70 302 posts | bigboy1-Yes, I used to catch, in my younger days ... See Benji4's post. |
| Feb. 13, 2018 BubbleHead96 27 posts | As a pitcher I can see both sides of this argument, I was hit this year under the mask and suffered a broken jaw in a Utrip tourney. I know the risks and I assume that risk standing on the mound. However I took the field this year at worlds and that ball is a whole different level. The guys playing 40+ and probably even 50+ don't need a different ball but I would consider a different bat at those levels and possibly a net, you do sign off on the risk when you walk on the field and unless youve never played this game then you know what you are getting into, I cant speak towards 50 plus but this is just my opinion. |
| Feb. 13, 2018 BubbleHead96 27 posts | Oh yeah and for the record the young man killed in Florida was from a foul tip off his glove and no he wasnt wearing a helmet, I recommend EVERYONE pitching wears one |
