NFHS=No Frauds Here, Stupid.

You can get just the facemasks. Your helmets might already be drilled for them. They cost about $10 and mounting hardware is included. So, compared to bats (and even game balls) its a minimal investment.

"They cost about $10 and mounting hardware is included. So, compared to bats (and even game balls) its a minimal investment."

Sure it is a minimal investment, especially with respect to the safety of our athletes. But it is still an added cost to already tight school budgets. And this added cost may be greater than you think.

The NFHS has mandated face masks for Softball in 2006, and optional for Baseball in 2005. Do you think the school wants to face the legal challenge from a male baseball player hit in the face during the time the school supplied face guards for its Girls? So how many helmets are we talking about to outfit 6 teams? (Fr, JV, and Varsity baseball and softball).

Our school Community Education provides a summer rec program for kids from Tee-Ball to 14-15 in BB and SB. If the H.S. is protecting the faces of its players, do you think the Com Ed department can do less. So now we are talking about a hundred to maybe two hundred face guards. Not exactly pocket change anymore.

I am not arguing against the face guards; just supporting the NFHS's decisions to give the schools a year to budget the new expanse.

WMB

Still waiting for your e-mail, JustMom

The original post referred to a high school that was closing, not a community ed. program. So even if they had a freshman team (which my own district doesn't) they'd need a minimum of 36 helmets total for BB & SB. The catalog I have shows them at $7.99/ea. for three or more. So they are talking less than $300 for the facemasks. For comparison sake, I'm wondering how many schools were impacted by the banned bat list?

As far as the community ed. programs, my girls have always had to pay to participate. If parents expect to have the best equipment, then they should expect to pay an extra dollar or two to cover the cost of facemasks for the league. (Kids should have their own helmets anyway IMO).

Why the difference? Must protect "sugar 'n' spice and everything nice" but "snakes and snails and puppy dog tails" can tough it out?

Typical busybody logic.

I'll make sure I pass that information on to the coaching staff, tha way we can have compliant helmets and not have to spend a bundle doing it. Some of the players have their own, and we have some school helmets (mostly for our JV; we haven't had a freshman team since 1991, if I recall correctly).