Posted by: Major Dan (markj89@charter.net) on Wed Aug 21 05:05:31 2002

Our league switched to helmets with face masks for both the 9-10 and the 11-12 years olds a couple of years ago, and I think it was a very smart move.
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> I especially don't like inexperienced 9 year olds facing a hard throwing 10 year old pitcher. But I think face masks give all young players more confidence and makes baseball more fun for everyone (players, coaches and parents).
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> Sometimes I even wonder if 9-10 year olds shouldn't wear them in the field too.

The face mask will prevent facial injuries. However, it also allows the hitter to never learn how to turn away from the ball. Do you see many kids get hit in the face mask?
I have this horrible image of hitters padded up like hockey players and fielders with shin guards, elbow pads, face masks and chest protectors. Maybe a permanent pitching screen in front of the pitcher as well.
Then everyone will be safe, nobody will get hurt. But it won't look like baseball either.



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> >>My son has just started Kids Pitch. He has a fear of being hit by the ball. What will help overcome this fear?
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> > > > pitch a few balls to him and let them hit you in the face and showem it doesnt hurt. You can really be sure of what will happen. if your a pitcher u take that chance. Thtas why a lot of people dont choose that way.
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> > > > IM being all serious
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> > > Great advise. I suspect you tried it on yourself first.
> > >
> > > Baseballparent -
> > > when first starting kidpitch, getting hit is a realistic fear. Most pitchers can't aim and some throw hard anyway. I'd be scared too.
> > > 1) teach your son how to protect himself. Use tennis balls, throw slow pitches from medium range and have him turn away and protect his head and neck with his shoulder and back. Learning how to take a hit-by-pitch avoids nasty things like getting hit in the face.
> > > 2) pitch tennis balls and have him hit them. Mix in a few aimed at him to build in the correct reaction.
> > > 3)graduate to real baseballs but don't hit him on purpose. Instead come inside on occasion or over his head. (I do that by accident all the time anyway!).
> > >
> > > Confidence that he can get out of the way or take it off a part that doesn't hurt as much is what will get him to stand in there against his Junior Wildthings.
> > > Interestingly, most kids will be fine with adults even if they get pegged. They don't trust the other kids. So there is another transition no matter how much you work with your son on this.
> > > Don't push him too hard to ignore his fear. Help him to overcome it with skills.
> > > Patience and support. Acknowledge that it IS scary. Think about it - your son is smart enough to know that he doesn't want to get hurt.
> > > Even the pros know it is scary. They're just really good at reacting and getting out of the way. Teach your guy to outsmart the wild pitchers too.
> > Hey
> > I started my fastpitch career of really well back in the 4th grade, i was killing the ball, but then i got hit in a pitch in the back of my left elbow, I never really even thought about the ball hitting me until i first got hit, i took me quite some time to recover from the fear, probly til my freshmen year of high school. I think it was that the pitchers began to throw harder and there wasn't much time to think about moving, or dancing out of the way, i had to concentrate on seeing and hitting the ball, there is still that split second where you pray that the ball isn't coming at you, even the big leaguers say so.
> > The Hitman