Re: Face Mask

Add to the well written posting by Bill Smith is the danger the girls have
sliding or diving back to a base without a face mask.  If a girl does not
have her head turned to the outfield, the low throw or deflected throw can
easily hit the runner in the face.  I have seen a laser throw from the
catcher go right into the face of a runner stealing second.  The face mask
is warranted especially after a parent spends a small fortune on braces and
building a daughter's self confidence.






in article [EMAIL PROTECTED], Bill Smith at
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote on 12/1/03 8:40 AM:

>>>> Bill, A eleven year old suffered from a cervical spine injury that left him
> with permanent damage. He life dreams were altered. This stat is one to many.
> <<<
> 
> I understand your concern. Whenever safety procedures are set in place, one
> should look at the benefit risk, not substituting one problem for another.
> 
> No one doubts the increase in safety for a batter who is equiped with a helmet
> and cage.  It is a sad thought, but to sacrifice of one individual such as you
> mention, would be balanced versus the many that would be saved injury.
> 
> Usually we are faced with this situation in the reverse, accepting greater
> injury for fear of cost of putting beneficial safety factors in place.
> 
> I am aware that motorcycle helmets provide a similar dichotomy of decision
> similar to this discussion.  No one should debate the benefit of a helmet
> saving a thrown rider from serious head trauma. However, there are cases where
> riders thrown at low speeds have had severe neck trauma caused by the weight
> and/or drag of their helmets.
> 
> It is an perplexing dilemma. On the one hand, a slamdunk, good for safety
> procedure, that has the rare, but tragic, consequence of perhaps causing
> greater injury than would be thought tolerable.
> 
> For the reason you mention, and others, the ASA has waffled on making the
> mandatory mask issue. Until now.
> 
> As has been pointed out, however, the bill of the helmet might equally be the
> cause, and if by its leverage point more so, of a cervical neck injury.  Since
> the bill serves no function but to shade ones eyes, hardly seems worthy of
> inclusion, in light of its potential danger.
> 
> Is this a damned if you do, damned if you don't? Full body armor is not
> suitable for playing this game.  At some point, ASA will have to stop in its
> attempt to legislate safety thru adding protective accouterments. However,
> mandatory masks are apparently not that point.
> 
> Bill Smith
> Burlingame, CA