Play Hard. Don' Blink. Sports Eye Safety Newsletter
In This Issue
The 2010 Season Is Here!
League Information
Getting Parents Involved
The Save Our Sight Fund
About Us
Play Hard. Don't Blink. is funded by a generous grant through the Ohio Department of Health's Save Our Sight Program. With your continued support and encouragement to use eye protection, we can reduce eye injuries and make competition safer for young athletes in all sports.
Program Links

Partner Links Ohio Department of Health
Save Our Sight Program

Ohio Ophthalmological Society


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Dear

THE 2010 BASEBALL AND SOFTBALL SEASON IS UPON US!

We hope you are enjoying the batting helmets.  For the best protection possible, please check your helmets to make sure the face masks are securely fitted and that the helmet fits snugly around the players.  The chinstrap is particularly helpful in securing a proper fit with younger players.  A number of leagues have also reported that they use the players caps as well under the helmet to help with a better fit.


2010 EQUIPMENT

By now your league should have received your 2010 baseball and softball helmets from Rawlings.  Please check the letter we sent to you confirming the quantities you would be receiving this year.  If there is an discrepancy, please contact us at (614) 527-6799 immediately.
COACHES VIDEO AND QUESTIONNAIRES AVAILABLE ONLINE

If your league received equipment from us in the past three years you should have received the 2010 participant kits this month.  The kits contain the coaches video and questionnaire information.  We are very pleased to announce that all of this information is available online at www.playhardgear.com.  The video can be found in the "Program Tools" section and the coaches questionnaire is in the "Questionnaire" section indicated at the top of the navigation bar.  The coaches questionnaires can be downloaded and distributed or completed online.  We have found that the online forms are easiest for tracking purposes but we encourage you to complete the forms in whichever manner is best for your league!


LEAGUE POLICY

Does your league need help writing a league policy for protective eyewear?  If so, please visit the League Policy section of our website!  The League Policy section can be found under the "Program Tools" section of our website.

Does your league currently have a protective eyewear policy?  If so, we would love to learn more about it so we can help more leagues write effective sports eye safety policies!  Please send us a copy via email at oos@ohioeye.org or via mail at:
OOS
3401 Mill Run Drive
Hilliard, OH 43026


LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT

Anything great about your league you would like to share with the Play Hard. Don't Blink. community?  Interesting story about equipment?  Special achievements of your league or a team?  Stories about how the equipment helped your organization?  If so, we want to hear from YOU!  Please send us your stories at oos@ohioeye.org and it may be featured in an upcoming newsletter!


CALLING ALL PHOTOGRAPHERS!

We love seeing the players and protective eyewear in action!  Please email us any pictures of your league teams wearing the equipment at oos@ohioeye.org. 

LET YOUR LEAGUE PARENTS KNOW ABOUT THE PROGRAM!

We have found parental support to be a critical piece in the prevention of eye injuries.  Please feel free to share the information below with your league parents!

Dear Parent:

Did you know that baseball and softball are the number one cause of severe sports-related eye injuries in the United States?

Eye injuries are often the result of a high-speed ball, aggressive body contact, or a swinging/moving piece of sports equipment. Young players often lack the reflexes, coordination, strength, or experience to avoid these eye hazards. For example, children often misjudge balls in flight, causing them to take a blow to the face or head.

The results of eye injuries can be devastating. These injuries can cause loss of vision or the complete loss of an eye. Even a minor injury can cause retinal detachment and blindness.

The good news is that we can prevent most of these injuries by encouraging our young athletes to wear eye protection.

Through the Ohio Ophthalmological Society's "Play Hard. Don't Blink." sports eye safety program, our league has received protective batting helmets with faceguards to prevent eye and facial injuries. This protective equipment has been provided free of charge through the Play Hard. Don't Blink. program.

Our league has made the commitment to ensuring safe playing practices by recommending all players wear the helmets while at bat and running the bases.

We're asking for help from you, the parent, to encourage your child to wear the protective helmet. The protective helmet with faceguard will not interfere with your child's concentration or reduce their ability to focus. Many parents and coaches feel that the extra protection actually enhances their young athletes' concentration and alleviates their fear of injuries.
 
For more information about sports eye safety and the Play Hard. Don't Blink. program visit their website: www.playhardgear.com.
REMEMBER THE SAVE OUR SIGHT FUND!

Play Hard. Don't Blink. is funded by a generous grant through the Ohio Department of Health's Save Our Sight Program. The Save Our Sight Program was created to ensure that children in Ohio have good vision and healthy eyes. The program accomplishes this through the early identification of children with vision problems and the promotion of good eye health and safety. Citizens of Ohio fund the program through voluntary $1 donations when they apply for or renew their license plates and tags.

Visit the Save Our Sight Fund website:www.saveoursight.org

Remember to donate a $1 next time you renew your license plates and tags!