Advisory committee proposes mandatory facemasks

The softball advisory committee for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union is recommending that the state consider mandating facemasks for infielders, including pitchers.

IGHSAU executive director Mike Dick said the matter was discussed at Friday's meeting of the board of directors, and tabled.

'I'm sure it will be on our agenda for our November meeting,” Dick said. 'The board was not ready to act on it today.”

The National Federation of High Schools does not have a rule on infielder facemasks. If Iowa mandated it independently, it would be the first state to do so.

Solon Coach Jim White said, 'There are a lot more kids coming up through the lower levels that are growing up wearing them. If they want to wear them, that's fine. But I really don't think that should be mandated.”

White said he has never had a player, at Solon or, before that, at Clear Creek Amana, that wore one.

'Down the line, it's going to be less of an issue,” he said. 'You go to a 10-and-under tournament, and almost all of the infielders are wearing them.

'If it becomes mandatory, it makes sense to phase it in.”

Facemasks would diminish the possibility of facial injuries and concussions caused by hard-hit balls.

Dick said he feels it's 'a strong possibility” that the NFHS will make facemasks mandatory down the road.

'If I had a high school daughter, and she was an infielder or a pitcher, she would wear one,” Dick said.

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com