Which sports use masks to protect athletes’ faces?

In sports, masks serve as essential protective equipment designed to prevent facial injuries. These devices are typically constructed from durable materials like metal cages or hard, clear plastics such as polycarbonate.1

Athletes in a variety of sports utilize these protective coverings, including:

• Football: Players wear helmets equipped with full cage face masks to protect against impact.1
• Ice Hockey: Goalies and other players use helmets with full face masks, which are sometimes decoratively designed.12
• Fencing: A specialized mask is a mandatory piece of equipment for all fencers to protect the head and face during bouts.23
• Baseball: Catchers wear masks to guard against high-velocity pitches and foul tips.2
• Skiing: Downhill skiers often wear face masks, sometimes made of materials like neoprene, to protect their faces while racing.12

Historically, the use of protective face coverings in competitive events dates back to the Roman army, where horsemen attached decorative masks to their helmets during tournaments of arms.2