Slow-pitch leagues consider helmet rule after injury
32-year-old player required brain surgery after he was struck in back of the head
Victoria-area slow-pitch leagues could be making helmets mandatory in the wake of a Courtenay incident that left a 32-yearold man in critical condition.
Chris Godfrey, a married father of a toddler, was injured when he was hit in the back of the head by a ball thrown to first base during a game. He was running to first when the throw was made. He underwent brain surgery and remains in hospital in Victoria.
Comox Valley Slopitch League president Adrienne Elliott has since decided to make helmets mandatory for all teams. A vote on the issue could follow at the league’s annual general meeting, she said.
“We’ve tried to put helmets through a couple of times,” Elliott said.
League play resumed Wednesday for the first time since the tragedy, she said. A candlelight vigil was held for Godfrey on Monday at Lewis Park in Courtenay. Elliott said a GoFundMe page has been established for the Godfrey family.
“It’s tragic what’s happened, it really is,” said Scott Wood, president of the Greater Victoria Mixed Slowpitch Association. “You’ve got to send your love and support and everything to Chris and the family.
“At the same time, you have to look at yourself. You have family, you have commitments — and should you wear a helmet?” The players have to decide, Wood said. “It’s up to us as adults to take the responsibility,” he said. “We’re playing a recreation sport no different than you going skiing, and you wear a helmet when you go skiing. It’s unfortunate it woke us up with what happened to Chris.”
Victoria Men’s Masters Slopitch League president Norm Choo said he sent an email addressing the helmet issue to all 18 team managers.
Each team is made up of about 20 players.
“Our AGM is actually coming up and we’ll be definitely discussing it, if not making it a mandatory rule,” Choo said.
“Once something happens and you hear about it, that’s when it starts to get people to think.”
Helmets in softball make sense, Choo said. “You play hockey, you play football, you play whatever and there’s always protective gear, so why shouldn’t we be wearing helmets?”
Wood said his association is conducting a vote involving all 24 spring-league teams in three divisions.
“I’ve already heard back from probably 80 per cent of my teams saying they’re for it 100 per cent,” he said. “There’s not one against so far.”
Wood said it is important to get everyone involved in the process.
He said the association’s main season is over, but a smaller fall league starts soon and helmets should be prevalent.
“Actually, I had a team already show up in helmets, so I think a lot of teams are going to take it upon themselves, as well. We’re all adults at the end of the day.”
Wood said he has been part of an effort over the past year to establish a governing body for slow pitch in Greater Victoria. “We’re still in the works of it right now.”