New safety guidance on the wearing of cricket helmets by young players

INTRODUCTION

The England and Wales Cricket Board has issued safety guidance on the wearing of cricket helmets by young players in order to establish a consistent and safe approach for young cricketers.

GUIDANCE

It is recommended that a helmet is worn by young players when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice.

A young player should not be allowed to bat or to stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket without a helmet against a hard ball except with written parental consent. Coaches, teachers, managers and umpires should always ensure that a young player wears a helmet if this written parental consent has not been received.

Players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting against a hard ball, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box).

There is a British Standard (BS7928:1998) for cricket helmets and it is in the best interests of players to ensure that their helmet conforms to this standard.

The ECB is recommending that this guidance is followed by all players up to the age of 18 (Le, until their 18^th birthday). It applies to young players in adult cricket as well as to all junior cricket played with a hard ball.

HELMET SUPPLIERS

There are a number of suppliers selling helmets and each supplier offers a range of different sizes. The helmets can be adjusted, within limits, to cater for variations in head size. The weight of the helmet varies from supplier to supplier, as does the price.

Players, parents, clubs and schools are advised to investigate the options available before selecting a helmet, to ensure that the helmet carries a CE Mark and to see if discounts are available for multiple purchases.

PRACTICAL POINTS FOR CLUBS, SCHOOLS & OFFICIALS

Each club and school will need to decide:

• Must young players always wear a helmet when batting or standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket or will they accept written parental consent to allow players not to wear a helmet?

Worcester Park Cricket Club enforces that all young players must wear a helmet when batting or standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket unless the Worcester Park committee receive written parental consent to allow that player not to wear a helmet.

• Will the club provide helmets for use by players who do not own a helmet?

Worcester park Cricket Club have invested in a collection of Club helmets and are continuing to do so. If a player wishes to buy their own helmet, they are perfectly entitled to do so, but there are helmets available for all young players that need them.

Before the start of any match the coach/teacher/manager should inform the umpires and the opposing coach/teacher/manager of the age group of all the players in the team and, for all players under the age of 18 on the day of the match, if they will be wearing a helmet or have parental consent not to do so. Umpires are being advised not to stand in matches where players will not be wearing helmets and parental consent has not been given. Umpires and opposition officials should accept the word of the official(s) of the other team and should not ask for written evidence that parental consent has been given.

It is strongly recommended that a written team sheet is given to the umpires before the start of play. In matches where there are no official umpires the captain (if it is an adult team) or the manager/coach/teacher in charge of a junior team is responsible for the safety of their own team members and for ensuring that the safety guidance is followed. The ECB guidance does not impose any duty on a team to ensure that its opponents comply with the appropriate ECB safety guidance.

It is important that young players drink appropriate amounts of water to avoid any possible risk of dehydration during a match or practice session. Coaches, teachers, managers and umpires are encouraged to ensure that regular intervals for drinks are arranged, particularly in matches of more than 20 overs per innings.

DEFINITION OF A HARD BALL

The guidance applies whenever a hard cricket ball is being used. This includes the hard balls used in some forms of indoor cricket and the red and white 'coaching' balls. The guidance also applies to net practice sessions with a hard ball. Coaches, managers and teachers will know whether the ball in use is 'hard', and if they are in doubt they should insist that helmets are worn. It is not intended that the guidance should apply when Kwik cricket balls, tennis balls, windballs and similar softer balls are being used. In addition the balls that are used in Inter Cricket, the new ECB Development Game launched in March 2000, which are rubberised with a seam, or similar balls from other manufacturers, do not require the wearing of helmets.

Further information including names of helmet suppliers can be found on the ECB web site, www.ecb.co.uk and on www.play-cricket.com

To all young cricketers

Cricket played with a hard ball is not a dangerous game, and most players never get seriously hurt by the ball throughout their careers. But if you do get hit on the head - it does hurt and can be serious!

About 20 years ago Mike Brearley, who went on to captain England and win the Ashes, was one of the first players to wear a helmet. Early helmets were more like a hard skull cap, but that soon changed and now helmets are worn not only by Test and County players but also by players of all ages in all types of cricket. At first helmets had no grille or faceguard, but being hit in the face is also painful so today a helmet with a faceguard is a normal item of protective cricket equipment.

That's why the England and Wales Cricket Board is advising all young players to wear a helmet with a faceguard whenever batting or practicing against a hard cricket ball. The helmet will give protection against the fast bowler who can bowl a bouncer, but also against the full toss bowled by mistake and against the ball that you try to pull or sweep - and edge into your face.

Wicket keepers are also in the firing line when standing up to the stumps. You need to be able to reach the stumps if you are standing up for a stumping, but if the ball bounces or comes off the edge you have little time to react - so wearing a helmet is just as important as it is when batting.

And what about fielding? It's not safe or sensible to field too close to the batsman while you are still learning the game, so unless you are behind the wicket on the off side, in the slip or gully positions, you have to be at least 11 yards (10 metres) away from the bat if you are playing in the Under 13 age group or below, and 8 yards (7.3 metres) up to the Under 15 age group. Until you are 18 you must always wear a helmet and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box) if you are fielding within 6 yards (5.5 metres) of the bat. Make sure that you wear appropriate protective equipment whenever you are fielding in a position where you feel at risk.

Advice to young players

	Find a helmet that FITS – remember that they can be uncomfortable at first and you have to get used to wearing them. Practice your shots as often as you can with your helmet on. If you are using a club or school helmet try them on in PRACTICE sessions and find the one that is best for you.
	Wearing a sweatband or a baseball cap the wrong way round can help make them fit better. Adjust the Chin Strap so that the helmet is secure. If you can, take the helmet OFF between overs or during any break in play - it can be warm wearing
	A helmet so take the chance to cool down - and take drinks at regular intervals.
	Make sure that the FACEGUARD is adjusted so that the ball can't go between the helmet and the faceguard -
	If you are not sure ask your coach or teacher. Remember that if you are Under 13 or younger you will be playing with a smaller ball.
	Make sure that the NUTS holding the faceguard to the helmet are done up tightly so that the faceguard can't move about.
	Look after the helmet - don't throw it around or hit it - you want it to be in its best Condition in case the ball hits it.

The ECB Cricket Department will be happy to answer questions on any aspect of the guidance. Please call frank Kemp on 020 7432 1216, write to the ECB at Lord's or send an e-mail to frank.kemp@ecb.co.uk