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titansx11
106 Posts |
 Posted - 02/14/2010 : 19:54:58
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| I know I should know the answer to this question, but someone told me this rule has changed. Can a catcher still wear the old school mask with an old school batting helment turned around? |
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PS Iron Pigs
129 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2010 : 21:23:51
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Rule 8.01.G The catcher shall wear all appropriate protective gear including a catcher's helmet with facemask and either a built in extended throat guard or a separately attached throat guard, chest protector shin and/or let guards, and protective cup.
Rule 8.01.G (comment) In age divisions 4u-12u, the catcher's helmet shall fully cover both ears.
So depending on your catcher's age the answer could be yes or no. |
Edited by - PS Iron Pigs on 02/14/2010 22:31:26 |
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stanlewis
545 Posts |
Posted - 02/14/2010 : 22:39:56
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I have seen this become a big issue in National Tournaments. High School rules state specifically that you have to have full ear protection. No skull caps. So any game that is based upon NFHS rules has this requirement. Most organizations that use MLB rules as a base add this as an additional requirement. There are a couple of states that do not go by NFHS rules and these teams are the ones that get caught with illegal equipment.
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titansx11
106 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2010 : 08:24:41
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| thanks guys. |
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gabandit
25 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2010 : 10:17:39
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| My catcher's used the batting helmet and traditional mask at 13U in Spring season of 2008 in many national tournaments, Elite WS, Triple Crown, etc without any problems |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 02/15/2010 : 10:35:05
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| Then again, my son has been using the old school setup for the past year or so: 9U and 10U. We don't tend to make it to the national touraments, but I guess I should get him used to the hockey style again. (we have both, he just prefers the old school one.) |
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whits23
596 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2010 : 10:29:50
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| I am surprised any kid under 14 can use one due to how much they weigh and the limited sizes they come in |
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gausssa
209 Posts |
Posted - 02/16/2010 : 15:52:41
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| 12u down must wear the full helmet that covers the ears. 13u and up can go old school. |
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ronicard
117 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2010 : 11:19:35
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Anyone know the reason for why this change was ever mandated?
I ask this because my catchers find it incredibly difficult to try and remove the mask to catch a popup when they're wearing the hockey style masks. And yet, in over 35 years of playing, watching, and coaching baseball I have never seen, nor even heard of, anyone getting hit in the area around the ear, which is the only place that the hockey style mask provides more protection than the old school one does. |
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stanlewis
545 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2010 : 18:31:42
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| I set in on a meeting once where it was explained that every safety rule had been traced back to a lawsuit. |
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PS Iron Pigs
129 Posts |
Posted - 02/17/2010 : 18:36:04
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| My son's 10 and a catcher and I'm 44 and still catch, although I've taken off two years for L5 vertabrae issues stemming from still catching at 44! Two years ago, I was knocked unconcious twice be follow-through swings. I understand that these guys are bigger and have much larger swings but at 10, I'd rather my son miss a pop-up than get cracked in the head with a bat. He's been hit in the chest and arms with thrown bats and that's close enough for me. I teach my son to keep his mask on unless he's got time to remove it on a higher pop-up. Just my thoughts! |
Edited by - PS Iron Pigs on 02/17/2010 18:44:31 |
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goyard
217 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2010 : 08:27:22
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PS Iron P - My son is a catcher as well and I agree with you wholeheartedly! It is not so much the ball as they have learned to keep head on to the ball but it is the backswing many times that are HIGH risk in that earhole area!!
I had heard that they will have to wear they Hockey style in High School anyway - observed a game last night between KMtn and Allatoona and no catcher wore the Old School two piece cap - all Hockey masks. That's where wew are sticking as well! |
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DecaturDad
619 Posts |
Posted - 02/20/2010 : 18:52:40
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| I did not realize the safety issues with the old school masks. My son will be s=using a hockey style mask now. Thanks for the information. |
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Topic |
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Can a catcher wear?????????????
