Face masks?

[Mountaincoach]

All of the objections on this particular thread to the KHSAA mandate are valid LEGAL points. At least you guys are not saying stupid things like the masks are not needed, it should be a personal choice, etc. And I agree some parents and coaches are probably cowards because they won't stand up to their own kids and say "Wear the mask or you don't play".

First, I'm not that parent or coach. If you play for me, you wear the mask. Secondly, what do we do to protect those kids while the lengthy process of testing those masks takes place?Again, lawyers are not standing on that field. Young kids with varying degrees of maturity and ability are, and a few of them without a mask are getting hurt. And you guys all know the masks on the market work better than nothing at all.

So, the rule has been established. It may very well save a kid's life next season. Now go ahead and start the testing, get the certifications, etc. Sometimes common sense has to step in front of legalities and society's never-ending urge to question and debate almost everything. And you guys make sure to snap a picture of any homemade twisted wire masks that you see on the field today. And let me know if Lowes has a special on their face shields-I will run out and buy a dozen for my team and throw the high quality Rip-It, Schutt, etc. masks in the trash.

[IRISHMAFIA]

Originally Posted by Mountaincoach

Again, lawyers are not standing on that field.

No, they are standing behind the dugouts with a briefcase full of retainer agreements

Young kids with varying degrees of maturity and ability are, and a few of them without a mask are getting hurt. And you guys all know the masks on the market work better than nothing at all.

Don't know if I'd be so fast jumping on that bandwagon. There have been some pretty wild garage/basement made concoctions appear over the years. Good intent, but maybe not as safe as they appear

So, the rule has been established. It may very well save a kid's life next season. Now go ahead and start the testing, get the certifications, etc.

Who is going to pay to commission such testing?

Sometimes common sense has to step in front of legalities and society's never-ending urge to question and debate almost everything. And you guys make sure to snap a picture of any homemade twisted wire masks that you see on the field today. And let me know if Lowes has a special on their face shields-I will run out and buy a dozen for my team and throw the high quality Rip-It, Schutt, etc. masks in the trash.

Well, see, that is part of the problem. When the certified masks were mandated on the batting helmet, the people couldn't understand why they had to replace the "perfectly good" (yet neither tested or certified) Rip-it, Schutt or whatever other manufactured cage that was already attached to the helmet. Many were just outright headstrong about MAKING them spend another $15-$25 for another mask they insisted they did not need. Of course, like the bats, many voiced their displeasure and accused ASA of passing the requirement simply to make more money off of masks. This was a little strange to me that these same folks buy into the $200-$300 Make-My-Daughter-a-Superstar bat in a heartbeat, but go off the deep end on something like a piece of safety equipment.

[Dakota]

Originally Posted by Mountaincoach

...what do we do to protect those kids while the lengthy process of testing those masks takes place?...

Who is this "we" of which you speak? Coaches, leagues, and parents already have all the authority they need.

If anyone can post a link to the actual wording of the rule, I'd like to read it.

I would hope, for example, the rule mandates that the mask be manufactured for the purpose of softball fielder protection, not just something homemade or just any ol' "mask". If they did that, in reality it is no different from what a coach or a league would mandate (but it probably does shift the burden of legal liability to the Kentucky High School Athletic Association should one of these masks break and cause injury).