Since the catcher is especially vulnerable, almost all of the equipment is made or enhanced with plastics. Masks, made from a solid vinyl-coated metal frame and simulated leather pads made of soft plastic, help protect the catcher's eyes, nose and mouth from potentially serious injury. Chest Protectors, covered in nylon and made from polyethylene plastic sternum inserts, protect the lungs, ribcage and heart from serious impact from fast moving balls, bats or base runners. Leg Guards are padded with durable plastic foam to protect the knees and lower legs. According to the Institute for Preventative Sports Medicine in Ann Arbor, Mich., base sliding is responsible for 71 percent of all recreational softball accidents.
Injuries occur when runners slide into a hard, stationary base, risking strained or broken ankles.
The safety-release bases, made from soft plastic, are dislodged by sliding runners and leave no hard parts sticking up from the ground. The Institute for Preventative Sports Medicine found that 98 percent of base sliding injuries could be prevented by installing breakaway bases. Softball Injuries - Aetiology and Prevention.