ECB GUIDANCE NOTE: SAFETY MEASURES FOR HELMETS WITHIN RECREATIONAL CRICKET
The ECB has recently announced new helmet safety measures, which are being introduced with a view to reducing the risk of head and facial injuries within the game. The following information should assist Leagues and Clubs at the recreational level to understand the key elements of these changes and what they mean.
Players over the age of 18
The ECB strongly recommends that all adult recreational cricketers should wear helmets for certain activities, preferably which meet the most recent British Safety Standard (see below). This recommendation applies to batting against all types of bowling, wicket-keepers standing up to the wicket (who may as an alternative wear face protectors) and fielders fielding closer than eight yards from the batsman’s middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side.
Under 18s
For details of the position in relation to U18s click here
After a recent incident involving a child being hit on the head while not wearing a helmet, a reminder of helmet guidelines to all clubs with junior sections or juniors playing in open age cricket. Please ensure this message is communicated throughout your club and signage is clear and visible, including nets and practice areas:
In February 2000 (updated in 2015), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued safety guidance on the wearing of helmets by young players up to the age of 18. In brief, the guidance recommends that:
- helmets with a faceguard or grille should be worn when batting against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice sessions
- young players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box)
- young wicket keepers should wear a helmet with a faceguard, or a wicketkeeper face protector when standing up to the stumps.
With the assistance of schools, cricket clubs and leagues, the wearing of helmets by young players is now standard practice in cricket throughout England and Wales. The original guidance allowed parents or guardians to give their written consent to allow a young player not to wear a helmet. However now parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted in any form of cricket.
This guidance applies to all players up to the age of 18, both in open age group cricket and in all junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball. The guidance also applies during all practice sessions. Any individual taking responsibility for players should take all reasonable steps to ensure that this guidance is followed at all times.
The ECB asks that the guidance is communicated to the parents or guardians of all young players through clubs and schools, and that young players are not allowed to bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball without wearing appropriate protection.
British Safety Standard
The latest British Safety Standard is BS7928:2013 (for both adults and juniors). For wicket-keeping face protectors the relevant British Safety Standard is BS7929-2:2009 (again, for both adults and juniors).
The ECB understands that there is currently no specific women’s helmet and as a consequence no specific standard for women’s cricket helmets. As the size of the standard women’s cricket ball is between the standard men and junior balls, it is recommended that women use helmets that have been tested against both the men’s and junior sized ball, or at least against the junior size ball (as that could potentially get through the gap above the face guard on a men’s helmet).
What do Leagues and Clubs need to do?
Whilst it is strongly recommended that all adult recreational cricketers wear helmets in the on-field circumstances detailed above, it is not mandatory for them to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, Leagues or Clubs do not need to go above and beyond the ECB’s recommendation by forcing their cricketers to wear helmets.
However, Leagues and Clubs in recreational cricket should ensure that their cricketers are made aware of the ECB’s above recommendation in relation to helmets, including the need to check that any newly purchased helmets meet the latest British Safety Standard. The ECB recommends that Leagues and Clubs bring the link https://www.ecb.co.uk/about/policies/concussion to the attention of their cricketers and encourage all cricketers to carefully consider their own health and safety regarding helmet use.
Leagues and Clubs should always ensure that they have adequate public liability insurance.
Click HERE to view resources developed by ECB for the management of concussion including helmet guidance.
