Question Number: 27858

Law 4 - Players Equipment 10/7/2013

RE: High School Under 16

Erica Nelson of Bend, Oregon United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26691

I went searching for an answer about wether metal knee braces are allowed in soccer because my team plays another high school team several times this season. We played them twice already this season and beat them pretty badly. They added a girl to there roster who either came down from one of their other teams to play us or is returning to play from a knee injury. She has a brace with metal joints that are infact covered, the problem being that after playing her three of our four forwards, who themselves have knee injuries but dont wear a brace, got identical bruses in the same spot on their knees that are clearly from engaging in a challenge with the girl with the kneebrace. I also recieved a bruse identical to the other bruses recieved from the girls knee brace on my stomach from when she landed on me. This caused my insicion from when i got my appendix removed a year ago to swell up. The knee bruises on the three forwards also agravated their own knee injuries that they havent had to wear knee braces for for months. Would it be appropriate to ask that the girl either take off the brace or not play the next time we play this team?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Erica
Knee braces with no metal exposed that are unaltered are legal. Types of equipment which are illegal include projecting metal or other hard plates in braces etc.
It is up to the referee to decide if the brace is acceptable or not.
As regards contact between players that unfortunately happens in all games. It certainly happen without knee supports. My experience of playing with a knee injury was that I was more concerned about my knee and to the extent that I would not risk contact with opponents. Like Referee Wickham I have never seen a brace used as a weapon. It is, however, up to the referee to judge whether the challenges and contact between players is fair and legal. I believe that any referee would plainly see repeated use of the knee (with the help of a visual from a brace) into opponents causing hard contact as foul play and also unsporting conduct.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Erica,

The Laws simply state that a player cannot play with equipment that is dangerous to herself or others. It is up to the judgement of the referee as to what constitutes dangerous.

I know with plaster casts, the advice is generally that no amount of padding can make a plaster cast safe to opponents - I would think the same should apply for a metal knee brace.

If you have a particular concern when you come across this in the future, you could always raise your concern with the referee in question - but the referee's decision will be final.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

High school (NFHS) rules have changed over the last few years regarding knee braces as modern braces have been introduced. The rule permits a knee brace as long as it has not be altered.

The referee always must judge any equipment to be safe, however, and some referees remain concerned about the unpadded hard plastic. IMO, there is nothing inherently unsafe about these braces, and I have never seen a player use a knee brace as a weapon. (I think the players recall how long was the recouperation after the original injury.) I also think the danger of hitting a hard plastic brace is about the same as hitting a hard plastic shinguard or a very hard, non-plastic cleat. The older models of knee braces contained exposed metal and these were unsafe unless covered and padded - - unlike modern braces.

But, the rules allow for such discretion in the referee. If the referee judges it is unsafe, it is. Many manufacturers sell a padded cover for their brace. If the referees in your area express a concern about the safety of the knee brace, consider buying a cover and keeping it in the bag.