Evaluation of Safety Balls and Faceguards for Prevention of Injuries in Youth Baseball

Abstract
Baseball is an integral part of the cultural fabric of the United States, in part because it provides a point of initiation for youth into organized team sport.1,2 Nearly two thirds of baseball participants are younger than 18 years.3 There is concern, however, about injuries to youth baseball participants, and protective equipment has been widely endorsed and studied as a means of preventing these injuries.4-14