Helmet for the Pitching position in Coach Pitch.?

Question

I'm a coach in a Pinto Coach Pitch League and I'm interested in getting a helmet for my player pitcher to wear. Any ideas where to buy one? This is strictly for safety purposes.

Thanks

I needed to add that there was a boy in t-ball this past season that was hit in the face and shattered his eye socket. The balls that are used are hard balls and unless the batter is trying to pull the hit then when they hit the ball out in front of them the ball will go right back up the middle. That's what we work on during practice..line drives up the middle and the majority of my players do that. The helmet I'm asking about is lighter in weight then a batting helmet and has a face mask attached to it. Accidents do happen like the boy in Grapevine Texas that was at the batting cages and when the ball was pitched it went through 2 holes that were in 2 differant cages and hit him in the back of the head and he passed away 2 days later. So accidnets do happen and as a coach I'd like to prepare for any contigengies.

I needed to add that there was a boy in t-ball this past season that was hit in the face and shattered his eye socket. The balls that are used are hard balls and unless the batter is trying to pull the hit then when they hit the ball out in front of them the ball will go right back up the middle. That's what we work on during practice..line drives up the middle and the majority of my players do that. The helmet I'm asking about is lighter in weight then a batting helmet and has a face mask attached to it. Accidents do happen like the boy in Grapevine Texas that was at the batting cages and when the ball was pitched it went through 2 holes that were in 2 differant cages and hit him in the back of the head and he passed away 2 days later. So accidnets do happen and as a coach I'd like to prepare for any contigengies.

Answer 1

If it is coach pitch, then I would be surprised and shocked if they are using a ball that would injure a little player anyway. In most lower-level leagues like teeball and coach pitch, the type of ball is softer - it feels sort of like a rubber ball that is covered like a regular baseball. The need, then, for a helmet is minimal at best, and I am not certain if I would want to start placing helmets on fielders like that. If the league in which you coach is using a "real" baseball, then that is a much greater safety factor than the need for a pitcher to wear a helmet. GET THE COACHES AND PARENTS TOGETHER TO ASK THEM TO CHANGE TO A SAFER BALL; there are tons of good ones out there on the market!

Though I am all for safety for players in any activity, I wonder if putting a helmet on a pitcher might not be carrying the safety thing a little too far, and would be concerned that its use might not actually be a HINDRANCE to the protection of a player. I know that I would personally not like to be ready to run to a ball that I am preparing to field and have the helmet, because of its weight, shift on my head and possibly throw me off balance or obscure my sight. It might sound like a far fetched scenario, but let's face it: many far fetched things happen in games when players are just learning to play, and this has as much likelihood as anything else! John Olerud wore a helmet for a reason at first base - he had suffered a head injury and was wise to wear one, but unless a player needs a helmet for such a reason, I think the "Helmet on a Defensive Player Idea" may be better kept in the "Only in Case of Emergency Medical Protection" file!

Answer 2

I agree that line drives won't be much of an issue; however, I commend you for thinking of your pitcher's safety. Most any sporting goods store or probably even Walmart would have helmets. You would use the same helmet as you to for batting as any helmet used from High School down has to have earprotection. Why not just use a batting helmet..or find one that fits a bit better than most batting helmets do on little people. MC sporting goods...I don't know where you are so it's hard to say what is near you. Find out where your league buys equipment or go on line to Baseball Express...they have a wide array of equipment for all ages.

Answer 3

Are you serious? If you are going to get a helmet for the pitcher, why dont you get one for everyone else on the field, because you wouldnt want them to get hit in the head by a ball. If it's coach pitch, the kids arent that good of hitters, that they are gonna hit it 100 mph right at the pitchers head.