Catcher's Mask: Safety vs. Vision - Updated Guidelines

Question
Is it true that it's no longer recommended to teach girls to remove their mask to field foul balls or to locate pass balls? This was recently explained to me by an Assistant High School coach.

Answer
Mike,

This depends on who you talk to.  The old style catchers masks did a very good job of protecting the catcher but block a bunch of the peripheral vision.  This is why catchers were taught to get rid of it as soon as possible.

The hockey style masks allow for much better peripheral vision.  It isn't nearly as important to get rid of the mask early.  My daughter (college level) locates the ball then removes the mask.  

Tom