ECB Guidance: 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 purpose of this brief note is to 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 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, wicketkeepers 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
The position in relation to under 18s currently remains
unchanged, and is governed by the ‘ECB Guidance on the
Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players’
(www.ecb.co.uk/youngplayershelmetguidance). In
essence, batsmen and wicketkeepers standing up to the
stumps must wear head protection when playing or
practising. This guidance should be referred to in full for
the position in relation to under 18s.
British Safety Standard
The latest British Safety Standard is BS7928:2013 (for
both adults and juniors). The full list of helmets meeting
this standard is available at www.ecb.co.uk/helmets. For
wicketkeeping face protectors, the relevant British Safety
Standard is BS7929-2:2009 (again, for both adults and
juniors).
You will see the above poster appearing on club
noticeboards during the coming season.
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’s and junior’s ball, it is recommended that women use
helmets that have been tested against both the men's and
junior’s sized ball, or at least against the junior sized ball
(as this 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 www.ecb.co.uk/helmets 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
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