Mississippi will be the first state to require the four most dangerous positions (including catcher) to wear face masks in High School.

[wheresmycar]

Starkville junior spearheads rules change, making fast-pitch softball a safer sport

https://mississippitoday.org/2019/0...nge-making-fast-pitch-softball-a-safer-sport/

 

[justanotherguy]

So did they do it for boys (baseball) too?

 

[KCPhoto]

States Mandate Face Masks in High School Softball

The Missouri State High School Activities Association has updated the softball manual for the 2016-2017 season with...

www.athleticbusiness.com

Missouri and Kentucky beat them. Catchers were already required to wear them.

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

 

[ian]

DD's teammate started wearing a mask at SS halfway through the season after catching a hot one. Coincidentally that girl is attending and playing ball at an ol' University in Mississippi next year.

 

[ian]

So did they do it for boys (baseball) too?

Right! These rules are dumb. I remember when batters didn't have to wear helmets. This game is getting so soft.

 

[J.Galt]

How bout getting rid of the bats that are the same drop as these girls swung in 6u?

Make the bats -5 max

In baseball they swing drop 10s when they're 7 but at 14 they're limited to drop 3s, softball should do the same

 

[_MIA_]

I don't see the problem with masks, most kids here in OK under the age of 12 have probably been using them since they started playing. DD's rec league required them and now her TB coach requires them. Doesn't stop a kid from fielding a ground ball properly. If Ozzie Smith came up to me and said that he wanted to wear a mask I wouldn't have an issue with it....

 

[_MIA_]

How bout getting rid of the bats that are the same drop as these girls swung in 6u?

Make the bats -5 max

In baseball they swing drop 10s when they're 7 but at 14 they're limited to drop 3s, softball should do the same

I agree with this..

 

[justanotherguy]

Or how about they let girls in 16/18u decide for themselves? But hey, girls are too fragile, boys are so much stronger and don't require protecting.

Also 110% agree with either heavier or less hot bats. Make the standard 1.0 just like baseball did with USA bats.

 

[The Man In Blue]

Will there be a performance standard for defensive masks? As of now, there is no NOCSAE standard. Requiring players to use unproven/untested safety equipment is possibly a worse idea. (I don’t mean face masks in general.)

I believe catcher’s chest protectors will be getting a NOCSAE standard (stamp) next year.

As for my suggestion on making the game safer (in addition to the bats comment) ... maybe it’s time to make the field bigger. Why exactly are 10u girls playing the same base distance as NCAA?