Safety Guidance on the
Wearing of Cricket Helmets
by Young Players

In February 2000 the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued safety guidance on the wearing of helmets by young players up to the age of 18. This original guidance document can be found at www.play-cricket.com/helmets. 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 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. Helmets are widely available and are covered by a British Standard (BS7928:1998).

The original guidance allowed parents or guardians to give their written consent to allow a young player not to wear a helmet. However most clubs, schools and leagues have decided not to accept this parental consent and require all young players to wear a helmet in all junior matches. If a club or school does agree, in exceptional circumstances*, that a young player need not wear a helmet they must ensure that an ECB Team Sheet card is completed and given to the umpires before the start of play whenever the young player takes part in a junior match.

At the beginning of 2007 the ECB clarified the guidance relating to young players in adult matches and confirmed that all young players who have not reached their 18th birthday must wear a helmet with a faceguard when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket in adult matches. It is now the case that parental consent not to wear a helmet should not be accepted in any form of cricket whether adult or junior or during practice sessions.

This guidance applies to all players up to the age of 18, both in adult 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 a helmet.

*   Additional guidance on what constitutes ‘exceptional circumstances’ can be obtained from the ECB Cricket Department.

Source: http://www.ecb.co.uk/ecb/directives-guidelines/directives-ecb-guidance-on-the-wearing-of-helmets,99,BP.html

ECB Directives:

• Fast Bowling for Non - First Class Cricket
• Safety Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players
• Juniors playing in adult cricket