Question Number: 24350

Law 4 - Players Equipment 11/21/2010

RE: Under 17

Diane of virginia, Virginia usa asks...

My daughter plays soccer and plays for a high school in Virginia. SHe is in many sports and is a great athlete. She was instructed by her physician and an orthopedic to wear a knee brace to prevent any further serious injuries. No other group has a problem. Not cheerleading. not basketball. but her soccer coach just made her remove it to play.

Why if we have a note from her physician the brace is padded would he do this and is this allowed?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Although each state may adopt different rules, the coach may be thinking about an old rule that has been changed.

The NFHS rules no longer requires a doctors note. They no longer requires a covered or padded knee brace. The rule only requires that the brace be 'unaltered.' The changes reflect the differences in modern knee braces. The rule still permits a referee to disallow the use of any particular brace if the referee deems it is unsafe.

One way to avoid any safety concerns by the referee, however, is to purchase the cover made by the manufacturer for the brace. The covers usually are padded and address concerns that someone might get hurt because of the hard plastic/carbon fiber. (Old braces with exposed metal were the problem addressed in the old rules. Most referees- including me- would have serious concerns about any exposed metal.) The mfg's cover is no longer mandatory by rule, but remains a wise thing to carry.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Oh, dear. The coach should not be making this decision!!! It is the referee's decision, and only her decision, as to whether or not the brace meets the requirements of safety and the rules of the competition.