Question Number: 29995

League Specific 12/13/2015

RE: High School

Mac Bleakley of Leesburg, Fl US asks...

This past week, I had a girls HS match. Several knee braces, unaltered from the manufacturer. Three girls went down after a ball, two came up. The girl on the ground had bashed her head on a modern knee brace, the kind with a hard circular piece on each side of her knee.. The coach voiced his concern at half, after reading the rule himself in the HS book.
Seems much violence prone than bashing your head on a bare knee.
I would love to see a rule change, making all braces with hard parts have mandatory padding.
The game was in Umatilla, Fl. The girl on the ground was subbed, and stayed in the bench. Checked on her and the coach immediately after the game. All ok.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mac
The current version of the NFHS rule states that 'knee braces which are altered from the manufacturers original design / production are illegal. Knee braces that are unaltered are legal and do not require any additional padding.' Rule 4-2-1f.
The manufacture of knee braces has been 'evolving and so has been the rules. The current rule prohibits braces only if they have been altered. Now where there is a hard surface visible that always will raise questions regarding safety. As a player who had to give up the game for a knee problem I would question the merits of having to play with such a strong knee brace. I also know that from experience that a weak knee limits the mobility and the manner in which challenges are made. Many players recovering from knee problems are quite leery of contact involving the knee. That though is not the question. The issue of safety is for each referee to decide based on what is presented. A player could as easily get hurt by contact with a players unprotected knee. Personally I don't think padding solves the safety issue. It may give greater comfort to the observer that it is softer and less likely to cause injury. However if the padded knee brace is used by the player in a manner which is aggressive and hard in challenges that bring its own safety risk. I would pay much greater attention to the manner of a players challenges with a brace and take the appropriate action.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mac,
under FIFA
A player may use equipment other than the basic equipment provided that its
sole purpose is to protect him physically and it poses no danger to him or any
other player. All items of clothing or equipment other than the basic equipment must be inspected by the referee and determined not to be dangerous.

Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks and knee and
arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material are not considered
dangerous and are therefore permitted.

In view of the new technology that has made sports spectacles much safer, both for the wearer and for other players, referees should show tolerance when authorising their use, particularly for younger players.

If an item of clothing or equipment that has been inspected at the start of a
match and determined not to be dangerous becomes dangerous or is used in a
dangerous manner during the match, its use must no longer be allowed.

As for high school NFHS, they specifically state that alterations for a verified safe knee pad system is not acceptable. So if you were to wrap more padding it might change the safety compliance factor for what it was intended to do.

I point out that women are eight times more likely than men to have knee problems like ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tears. The ACL is the ligament (strong, elastic bands of tissue that connect bone to bone) that stabilizes the knee. It prevents the knee from moving side to side and forward and backward. The planting and changing of directions is very hard on the knee. I hate seeing the compromise of trying to fix a problem with a knee brace even if I understand the desire to play. I coached young ladies from peewee to u-18 to over 35 and it is painful how easily so many were taken down by knee injuries. I encourage all woman to gradually warm up and continue stretching your leg muscles before and after playing in the cool down
Find good well fitting boots that are correct for the playing surface and maintain a healthy weight to reduce stress on the knee. Look to strengthen the leg muscles by swimming, walking up stairs or hills, or riding a stationary bicycle or elliptical, if you use weights ensure a qualified trainer is there to assist.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Mac,
You obviously read the rule and know that the knee brace is legal. Your suggestion for a rule that would require padding to cover the hard areas of braces may be valid. Unfortunately, rule change proposals for the upcoming annual NFHS Soccer Rules Committee meeting had to be submitted by November 1, so it is not something that can be proposed for the 2016-17 NFHS Rules Book. I so recommend that you propose this rules change next year. Please see the NFHS Web site to get the rules change proposal form.

Also, the NFHS has a Medical Advisory Committee that can recommend rules changes that are needed for the safety of participants. As a member of the soccer rules committee, I am asked to provide items for the Medical Advisory Committee to consider. I will definitely let them know about the problem that you encountered and your suggestion.

Thank you for your observation and very worthy suggestion. I hope that the remainder of your season is very successful.