Just to comment on leaving the helmet on thing here (it's a pet peeve for multiple reasons)...you're better than me in that instance. I couldn't bite my tongue fast enough and have yelled back to Leave It On! Most of the time I've had more rational discussions about this issue. This has come up with Coaches, Assistant Coaches and other parents. That's how she practices, been coached on it and believes is best. Some old school thinking when my DD's health and safety is concerned will quickly get shut down. If they don't like it, too bad...YES ON LEAVING HELMET ON!!! DD caught in a game for first time in 3 years last weekend and couldn't find a popup that went straight up in the air, landed a foot or two in front of homeplate, and bounced foul. I really like and respect the HS HC... played against him several times since 8u rec and is the 2nd most sportsmanlike coach I know. He yelled "take the helmet off next time". I had to take a deep breath and count to 10 not to yell back "she's had 3 concussions and her catching coach says softball catchers never take their helmets off with the hockey mask style helmet."