Knee Brace vs Leg sleeve

[todd66]

I know in the new rule book, this is discussed and that the new definition of a brace is A brace is defined as anything worn for a medical purpose to increase stability. In general, it is made of neoprene or elastic knit with an insert embedded to support the joint. It may or may not have a hinge and/or straps or an opening over the knee cap.

So, it the article being worn has some sort of insert it is a brace. No problems.

What if the coach informs you that the article being worn (a sleeve) is for medical purposes? Do not allow the player to play if wearing it and it is not legal and assume the risk of being sued of the player gets hurt?

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by todd66

I know in the new rule book, this is discussed and that the new definition of a brace is A brace is defined as anything worn for a medical purpose to increase stability. In general, it is made of neoprene or elastic knit with an insert embedded to support the joint. It may or may not have a hinge and/or straps or an opening over the knee cap.

So, it the article being worn has some sort of insert it is a brace. No problems.

What if the coach informs you that the article being worn (a sleeve) is for medical purposes? Do not allow the player to play if wearing it and it is not legal and assume the risk of being sued of the player gets hurt?

Whether the coach says it's for medical purposes or not is neither here nor there. The player can wear it. It just has to be a legal color.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by todd66

(if) the article being worn has some sort of insert it is a brace ...

I know what straps are. I know what hinges are. I know what an opening over the knee looks like. Now these past characteristics are no longer in the rulebook. Now the "medically purposed knee stability brace" doesn't have to have hinges, straps, or an opening over the knee. It just have to have an insert and it (the "medically purposed knee stability brace with an insert) doesn't fall under any color restrictions.

What the hell is an insert?

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

What the hell is an insert?

Think "stability piece sewn in".

Knee Brace 1: Sewn In Support Item No color restrictions.

Knee Sleeve: No Sewn In Support Item Subject to color restrictions.

Knee Brace 2: Sewn In Support Item No color restrictions.

"Sewn In", I assume, doesn't allow for knee sleeves or arm sleeves with pads sewn in because they are not inserts to provide support. Those would not be "braces", but knee sleeves with pads sewn in, obliged to qualify for color coordination rules. I assume:
Knee Pads -- Sewn In but not for Support Subject to color restrictions.

[BigCat]

Originally Posted by Freddy

Think "stability piece sewn in".

Knee Brace 1: Sewn In Support Item No color restrictions.

Knee Sleeve: No Sewn In Support Item Subject to color restrictions.

Knee Brace 2: Sewn In Support Item No color restrictions.

"Sewn In", I assume, doesn't allow for knee sleeves or arm sleeves with pads sewn in because they are not inserts to provide support. Those would not be "braces", but knee sleeves with pads sewn in, obliged to qualify for color coordination rules. I assume:
Knee Pads -- Sewn In but not for Support Subject to color restrictions.

The definition of brace now is ANYTHING worn for medical purposes which increases stability...This definition would include sleeves if you simply went by those words. No color restrictions would apply.

I will however, treat a sleeve as a sleeve and require it to meet color restrictions. I think the old definition required it to be a plastic type brace with hinges or something else that had a hole in it. There are legitimate braces which don't have hinges or a hole in it. They were likely trying to make those types of items legal. To me a thin sleeve will remain a sleeve unless I'm told differently. Will have to meet color restrictions.

[todd66]

Let,s hope we get some better clarifications from our states before the season gets going full force. In Illinois the middle school girls season has started and there is much confusion and very little consistency in enforcing

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by BigCat

The definition of brace now is ANYTHING worn for medical purposes which increases stability...This definition would include sleeves if you simply went by those words. No color restrictions would apply.

That would be true except for the words that follow: "In general, it is made of neoprene or elastic knit with an insert embedded to support the joint."

Your approach treating a plain sleeve as a sleeve and not a "brace" seems solid.

They're trying to make it easier for us. I just hope we don't screw it up by everybody being a plumber about it. (There, I said it.)

[BryanV21]

I'm not a doctor, physical therapist, or any sort of expert on braces. If I'm told something is for medical reasons then, going by the rules, I'm going to allow it to be any color. I'm not going to get into an argument about what a brace is, or inspect the item closer for an insert or whatever.

Until, of course, somebody instructs us otherwise in handling it.

[Freddy]

In our state, as in many others, the NFHS pre-season PowerPoint that comes out soon is read by our state basketball director and goes out to all officials and coaches. Let's give that a chance to cloud the issue further. In the meantime, the new definition of "brace" seems to be clear if you give it a chance.