Cricket specific safeguarding guidance

ECB Guidance on the Wearing of (“Head protectors”) by Young Players

Since 2000 the ECB has issued safety Helmets with a faceguard or grille should be guidance on the wearing of helmets by worn when against a hard cricket young players up to the age of 18. in matches and in practice sessions. keepers should wear a with a This guidance applies to all players up to the faceguard, or a wicketkeeper face protector, age of 18, both in open age group cricket when standing up to the stumps. and in all junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball. The guidance also applies during All young players should regard a helmet with all practice sessions. Any individual taking a faceguard as a normal item of protective responsibility for players should take all equipment when batting, together with , reasonable steps to ensure this guidance is gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector followed at all times. (box). All young wicketkeepers should regard a helmet with a faceguard or a face protector With the assistance of schools, cricket clubs as a normal part of their protective equipment leagues and umpires, the wearing of helmets together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an by young players is now standard practice abdominal protector (box). in cricket throughout England and . Helmets are widely available and are covered There is no exception to be granted in this by a British Standard (BS7928:1998) and a regard, in any form of cricket. new specification, for head protectors on sale from Spring/Summer 2014 (BS7928/2013) – The ECB asks that this guidance is see below. communicated to the parents, or guardians, of all young players through clubs and A face protector represents an alternative schools, and that young players are not head protection system for young wicket allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps keepers. Wicketkeeper face protectors are when keeping wicket against a hard ball covered by British Standard (BS7929 – without wearing appropriate protection. 2 :2009). Update: In March 2014 the following guidance was issued. This applies to head protectors worn by all cricketers.

Section 3 – ECB Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players – 2018 NEW CRICKET HEAD PROTECTOR The manufacturers have advised that there is TESTING STANDARD currently no specific women’s head protector (More commonly known as the Helmet and so there is no specific standard for testing standard) women’s cricket head protectors. As the size of the standard women’s cricket ball is The ECB, PCA and the ICC have worked between the standard men and junior , with BSi and head protector manufacturers it is recommended that women use head to develop a new specification for the protectors that have been tested against testing of head protection for cricketers. This both the men’s and junior sized ball or at specification [was] approved by BSi Group, least against the junior size ball (as the which is the national body responsible for smaller ball could potentially get through the producing appropriate safety standards in gap above the face guard on a men’s head the UK. protector).

With cricketers and machines able From 30 June 2014, the old BSI standard to deliver cricket balls at high speeds, and for cricket head protectors (BS7928:1998) given the obvious importance of protecting [was] withdrawn and the ECB therefore against head injuries wherever possible, recommends that all new head protectors head protectors are an essential part of a brought to market are tested against the new cricketer’s kit. standard.

It is important that individuals understand However, head protectors which have how the new specification [has applied] already been tested against the old standard to head protectors on sale from Spring/ can and will continue to be available for sale Summer 2014. and will not be withdrawn from the market.

The key features of the new specification, In light of this, the ECB has issued BS7928:2013, are: this guidance to ensure that the public understands the meaning and merits of the 1. it now includes a facial contact projectile new specification (and consequent labelling test that assesses for penetration of the that will soon be introduced) and therefore ball through the faceguard, and contact of to enable the public to make an informed the faceguard onto the face, using realistic decision as to which head protector to use. ball impact speeds and conditions; and Finally, whilst the ECB considers that head 2. head protectors have been tested protectors are an essential part of a cricketer’s separately against men’s and junior sized kit to mitigate the risk of injury, it must be cricket balls (a five-and-a-half ounce ball remembered that wearing a head protector and a four-and-three-quarter ounce ball, and faceguard (whether or not it has been respectively). tested against the new standard) cannot always prevent death, injury or disability. Head protectors that have been tested against the new standard will be clearly For further information, please contact labelled with “BS7928:2013” and will [email protected] contain clear labelling setting out whether a head protector has been tested against (i) men’s standard ball size of 5 ½ ounces, (ii) junior standard ball size of 4 ¾ ounces, or (iii) both men’s and junior size balls.

Section 3 – ECB Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players – 2018