Topic: 43" and metal cleats in 09?

this is a disappointment.  our kids are still pitching 40 (I know, any college bound player is showing their abilities at 43 in travel ball) but it would have been great prep to pitch at 43 during the school season.

 43 would have helped the offensive game a whole bunch.  MOST importantly,  help a little bit in the safety of all pitchers.  I could see some of the very young pitchers being less impressive at 43. 

Spikes, er cleats, would have been great considering some of the rock hard under kept school fields we play on.  The rest of the nation uses cleats, come on get in tune NY.  Injuries? How is that boys play with cleats?  You want safety? Ban some of the bats.  

3 feet IS a big difference, and its about time the rules are changed. and Metal? for those of you who are worried about those "non-travel" players.. suck it up. thats what happens when you play a sport. someones always gonna be playing at a higher level than others and then it turns into a "safety issue" its really not. I think players should use everything (SPEED) they can to their advantage, And if it means sliding spikes up and scarin the crap out of the girl covering 3rd, so be it. its all a part of the game.

Bingo! Good post.  

See here is where you made your mistake. Softball is not all about getting into college. Believe me. The girls out there who live for this game, who eat sleep and breath softball, would have a HUGE problem with what you just said. It comes with the territory GO BIG OR GO HOME. If I dont go home with dirt and blood on my uniform it wasnt a good game. We are talking about high school athletes here. Not girls. Nobody complains about that crap in football, basketball or lacrosse. I know from experience buddy, an elbow in the mouth or a sideswipe on the track can hurt just as much as getting spiked. and 8 stitches? Only 8? come on what a baby. somebody call the whaaaambulance. And if everyone is in metal, (equal), and you get spiked, duhhh SPIKE EM BACK! Point is, its all a part of the game. If you really want to learn your lesson, ask Joe Torre what happened last time he tried to pull one over on Maury Wills in the 60's. And if you dont know who Maury Wills is you dont belong in this discussion.

The discussion is interesting. I agree that 43' is a no brainer and why they haven't gone to it is baffling to me. All Showcases and almost all 18u tournaments are 43'. At that level most of the girls can put the ball in play so the pitchers move the ball around the zone to keep the hitters from getting the good part of the bat on the ball. It makes the game much more interesting and I think it would help keep some borderline softball/lacrosse kids on the softball field.

My thinking on metal cleats is based on my expierence wearing them  playing baseball and coaching boys. I can't remember anyone getting spiked and having to leave a game. I have a daughter and I am straddling the fence on this one. No one wants any of the girls to get injured, however, I have seen more girls get hit with bats that are thrown after a ball is hit, and backswings on catchers than I have seen players being spiked by metal cleats. I never played with rubber cleats so I can't say whether there is really an advantage to metal over rubber.

You have a good shopping list:

1. yeah, college at 45 would be great. but I'll settle for NYS at 43 for now.

2. an umpire to call out the slapppers would be great. as it is now, the only thing they do call is the travel player who moves up in the box and front foot is outside by a few inches of an unmarked box while slappers are outside by a full yard. 

3. Bad strike zones = bad umps = archaic umps. It takes a senior umpire to die before a young quality ump can move up to varsity level these days.  

4. If cleats were such a menace, why haven't they been banned in boy's ball?? 

well played.