I did not think this was a thing any more.
I did not think this was a thing any more.
...It's my belief that there is still undue pressure on players to do or not do certain things just because that's what they have stuck in their head as being "the way it should be"...and that goes way beyond the mask issue to hitting, pitching, catching, throwing, hell to every aspect of the game!
Kind of like life in general. Which is why as coaches we try to instill positive values and effective tools that transcend softball.
i have a mask story. last summer my youngest dd decided she didn't need to wear a mask anymore. she was playing with my middle dd on a u18 team. we were at a tourney in montreal playing a team from new hampshire i think, in a pool game that was late because of rain. middle dd was pitching, youngest dd was 3b. first pitch of game batter fakes a bunt, youngest dd moves in, next pitch is crushed off her forehead in milliseconds. she wasn't knocked out but had trouble getting her breath back. i was terrified walking onto the field. hit her in the best spot, right in center of forehead. she is fine now, but it was a long night in the hospital. game is delayed for about an hour til we get away in ambulance then the other coach comes over and says he understands if our team does not want to finish game but, he needs a win. our coach talks to team, they are very upset want to go back to hotel etc., my middle dd rallys them and says she wants to play, so game continues. she is still pitching and they get down by 5 runs before coming back to win. in the middle of the game may flies start to come out by the thousands and are all over everything. middle dd had to pitch with mouth closed.