I've always had a bit of a debate between my softball friends about the use of a face mask, whether it was for pitching or for the infield. I had started wearing a face mask when I was 12 once I got my braces, because as my mom had said, she had paid too much to straighten my teeth just to be ruined by a softball. I will admit, it took a lot getting used to, but once I got used to it, I felt a whole lot safer on the mound and in the infield. Many of my friends said they would never wear a face mask because they didn't want to look like a scaredy-cat on the field. I completely disagreed.
Softball masks have become more and more popular as the game has become more intense and dangerous. One of the big issues has come from the newer bats that allow the ball to bounce off of it faster, and some players are shaving the insides of their bats to get a bigger effect. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1991, more than 100,000 players ages 14 and under receive facial traumas from fast pitch softball. That's right, 14 years old and younger. Accidents like that could affect their softball career because they could be afraid of the ball which would prevent them from improving their abilities.
Nowadays, 20 percent of injuries in softball are to the face and head. A ball to the arm, chest or shin may hurt a lot, but it's something you can shake off given time. But having a ball hit your head? That could lead to a brain injury or a disfigured face. Those consequences seem a little too extreme for me.
A big reason why so many players are against wearing face masks is that many college players don't wear face masks, especially while at bat (I think that is insane, but that is an entirely different topic for discussion). Players are worried that if college recruiters see them wearing masks on the field, then they may be seen as too afraid to play. I disagree. I believe that any player who wears a face mask are smart, and wearing one allows them to play more aggressively since they won't have to worry about protecting their face.
Some players don't start wearing a mask until they have suffered an injury to the face, such as infielder Nicole St. Onge, who took a ball to the face, resulting in a fractured eye socket that required 26 stitches.
Face masks should be required to be worn by pitchers and infielders, in order to prevent injuries such as Onge's. The game and equipment are becoming more advanced and dangerous, so protection should up its game as well and be required. The players will definitely be grateful after they've taken a hard shot to the face and been able to walk away.
