Selecting and Using Protective Sports Equipment Chapter 6

Overview Because the nature of sports, injuries often occur. As we learned in chapter one, one of the main responsibilities of the coach is to minimize the likelihood of injury. Selecting fitting and maintaining protective equipment are critical in injury prevention. Protective equipment is particularly important in contact and collision sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse, but it can also be important in indirect contact sports such as basketball and soccer.

Safety Standards for Sports Equipment and Facilities Concerns about the standards for protective sports equipment: Materials being used Durability Who should set these standards Mass production of equipment Equipment testing methods Requirements for wearing protective equipment

Safety Standards for Sports Equipment and Facilities Standards are also needed for protective equipment maintenance. Too often old worn out and ill fitting equipment is passed down from the varsity players to the younger and often less experienced players, compounding their risk of injury.

Equipment Recondition and Recertification The national and operating committee on standards for athletic equipment (NOCSAE) is an organization that as established voluntary test standards that have been developed to reduce head injuries by establishing minimum safety requirements Football helmets/face masks Baseball/softball batting helmets Baseballs & Softballs Lacrosse helmet/face masks Lacrosse balls

Legal Concerns in Using Protective Equipment 1. If an injury occurs as the result of an athlete using a piece of equipment and if that piece of equipment is determined to be defective or inadequate for its intended purpose the manufacturer is considered liable. If a piece of protective equipment is modified in any way either by the athlete or by the coach the liability on the part of the manufacture is voided, and thus the individual who modified the equipment becomes liable.

Using Off-the-Shelf Vs. Custom Protective Equipment Off-the-Shelf- equipment that is premade and packaged by the manufacture and when taken out of the package may be used immediately without modification. Custom equipment tat is constructed according to the individual characteristics of an athlete.

Head Protection Direct collision sports such as football, hockey, and lacrosse require special protective equipment for the head. Other sports using fast moving projectiles such as baseball or softball also use protective head gear to prevent injuries.

Football Helmets An approved helmet must protect against concussive forces that may injure the brain Schools must provide the athlete with quality equipment especially a football helmet. All helmets must have a NOCSAE certification

Football Helmets Each players helmet must have a visible exterior warning label ensuring that players have been made aware of the risks involved in the game of American football.

Ice Hockey Helmet There has been a concerted effort to upgrade and standardize ice hockey helmets. In contrast to football, blows to the head in ice hockey are usually singular rather than multiple. An ice hockey helmet must withstand both high velocity impacts such as being hit with a stick of puck and the forces produced by running into the boards or falling on the ice.

Baseball/Softball Batting Helmets Like ice hockey helmets, the baseball/softball helmet must withstand high velocity impacts. Unlike football and ice hockey, baseball and softball have not produced a great deal of data on batting helmets. The use of a helmet with an earflap can afford some additional protection to the batter.

Baseball/Softball Batting Helmets Each on-deck batter and runner is required to wear a baseball/softball head protector that carries a NOCSAE stamp similar to that on football helmets.

Face Guards Faceguards are used in a variety of sports to protect the face from carried or flying objects during a Collison with another player. Since the adoption of faceguards and mouth guards, mouth injuries have been reduced more than 50%. In addition to face protectors, goal keepers should wear commercial throats protectors.

Mouth Guards In addition to protecting the teeth, the mouth guard absorbs the shock of chin blows and helps reduce the chance of concussions. Mouth guards serve also to minimize lacerations to the lips and cheeks and fractures to the lower jaw. The mouth guard should provide a tight fit, comfort, unrestricted breathing, and unimpeded speech during competition.

Ear Guards Both boxing and wrestling can cause irritation of the ears to the point that permanent deformity can result. Boxing, wrestling and water polo can cause irritation to the ears.

Glasses/Contact Lenses It is essential that athletes take special precautions to protect their eyes, especially in sports that use fast moving projectiles. Athletes should wear polycarbonate lenses, which are virtually unbreakable. Athletes who wear contact lenses should have an extra pair available along with saline solution.

Shoulder Pads The width of the shoulder is measured to determine the proper size of the pad. The shoulder pad should cover to the tip of the shoulder. The pad should cup the shoulder to cover the deltoid muscle and allow movements required by the athletes specific position. The neck opening must allow the athlete to raise the arm over the head without placing undue pressure on the neck.

Rib, Hip, Groin, and Buttocks Pads Many lightweight pads have been developed to protect the athletes ribs against external forces. Pads in the region of the hips and buttocks are often needed by athletes in collision and high-velocity sports. Sports involving high-velocity projectiles require cup protection for male participants.

Elbow, Wrist and Hand A variety of protective neoprene sleeves, pads, and hinged adjustable rehabilitative braces can be offered to protect the elbow. The wrist, hand, and fingers are susceptible to fracture, dislocation, ligament sprains, and muscled strains. Protective gloves are essential in preventing injuries in sports like lacrosse and ice hockey. Splints for fingers offer both support and immobilization of an injury.

Footwear It is essential that the coach and equipment personnel make every effort to select and fit their athletes with proper footwear. There should be plenty of room for the toes in a fitness shoe. The sole should be shock absorbent and durable. The heel counter is the portion of the shoe that prevents the foot from rolling from side to side at heel strike.

Footwear A good heel counter may prevent ankle sprains and painful blisters. An orthotic is a device for correcting bio-mechanical problems that exist in the foot that can potentially cause an injury. Heel cups can be used for a variety of conditions including plantar fasciitis, a heel spur, Achilles tendinitis, and heel bursitis.

Ankle, Shin & Lower Leg Currently semi-rigid ankle braces are being used successfully to restrain ankle motion. Compared with ankle tapping, these devices do not loosen significantly during exercise. The shin is commonly neglected however, shelled shin guard are used in field hockey and soccer.

Knee, Thigh, and Upper Leg Because of the high incidents of injury to the knee joint, manufacturers have designed a host of different knee braces for a variety of different purposes. Protective knee braces are used as a preventative measure. Rehabilitative braces are widely used following surgical repair or reconstruction of the knee to allow for controlled progressive immobilization. Functional knee braces provide support following a rehabilitative period.

Knee, Thigh and Upper Leg Neoprene braces with medial and lateral supports may be used by individuals who have sustained injury to the collateral ligaments and feel that they need extra support. Neoprene sleeves and pads can be used for support to prevent injuries to the upper leg.