Concussion Type Headbands ???

[SC Official]

If I'm told it's for a medical reason, they can play. Not a battle I'm going to fight with respect to having "proper documentation." Let the state deal with it after the game.

[Nevadaref]

Originally Posted by SC Official

If I'm told it's for a medical reason, they can play. Not a battle I'm going to fight with respect to having "proper documentation." Let the state deal with it after the game.

If it's truly for a medical reason, then the team/player won't have any problem getting an exemption from the state authority. Until that is granted, I, as the Referee, cannot allow the kid to participate BY RULE.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If it's truly for a medical reason, then the team/player won't have any problem getting an exemption from the state authority. Until that is granted, I, as the Referee, cannot allow the kid to participate BY RULE.

Devil's advocate here. Are there equipment color restrictions on medical devices such as eyeglasses, band aids, athletic tape, ankle braces, hearing aids, or eye patches? Does the state high school interscholastic sports governing body have to make exceptions for these equipment items? Does an official need to see documentation for such exceptions?

[deecee]

[Facepalm Smiley Goes Here]

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Devil's advocate here. Are there equipment color restrictions on medical devices such as eyeglasses, band aids, athletic tape, ankle braces, hearing aids, or eye patches? Does the state high school interscholastic sports governing body have to make exceptions for these equipment items? Does an official need to see documentation for such exceptions?

Really Billy? The concern should be whether or not the equipment is allowed by your state, not what color it is.

[Rich Ives]

You need permission for protective equipment?

If this is for someone who HAS a concussion they shouldn't be playing anyhow.

If it's to prevent a concussion then why ban it?

If you can only have one only if you had a concussion in the past isn't that like telling a catcher or umpire they can't have a mask until after they've been hit in the face once?

[john5396]

Not fair or I think correct to say that football helmets or this type of headgear don't prevent concussions. It is perfectly reasonable and correct to say they don't prevent ALL concussions. That is very different from saying that headgear cannot reduce the frequency and severity of concussions.

I fully expect that gear manufacturers are using the science to reduce injuries even if they will never prevent all injuries.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by john5396

I fully expect that gear manufacturers are using the science to reduce injuries even if they will never prevent all injuries.

You mean that a company would sell something without proper science?

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

You need permission for protective equipment?

Yes. You cannot play with a cast or hard braces in basketball and never have as long as I have been an official.

If this is for someone who HAS a concussion they shouldn't be playing anyhow.

Kind of the point.

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

If it's to prevent a concussion then why ban it?

Is there any evidence that these things actually prevent any injury? I mean a concussion is about how your brain goes up against your skull. The outside has little or nothing to do with preventing a concussion occurring. Similar devices are made for football helmets and the same scientific conclusion has been made before on those devices.

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

If you can only have one only if you had a concussion in the past isn't that like telling a catcher or umpire they can't have a mask until after they've been hit in the face once?

Those prevent other injuries to the face and head. But if you get hit in the head right, you will still have concussion. But head gear in basketball can hurt or harm other players if they contact this device. This is what I feel is the reason these are not usually allowed in the first place. Players in basketball do not hit their head that hard typically to where this would prevent a problem.

Peace

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Raymond

The concern should be whether or not the equipment is allowed by your state, not what color it is.

Somewhat agree. Then why does the NFHS state that knee braces have no color restrictions? The NFHS also states that headbands do have color restrictions, and are not concussion headbands one form of a headband that goes around the entire head (only wristbands must be moisture-absorbing)?

[deecee]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Somewhat agree. Then why does the NFHS state that knee braces have no color restrictions? The NFHS also states that headbands do have color restrictions, and are not concussion headbands one form of a headband that goes around the entire head (only wristbands must be moisture-absorbing)?

Because of officials like you. Who need everything spelled out. Can you imagine if they left that out? Would you collapse in a game where kids had different color knee braces? I don't care, and a kid better have an exemption if he wants to play in a game I'm officiating with a helmet on.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by deecee

Would you collapse in a game where kids had different color knee braces?

No. Different color knee braces are legal.

Would you allow players wearing a variety of headband, wristband, arm sleeve, leg sleeve, and undershirt colors in your varsity high school game? Are you one of those officials who doesn't enforce equipment restriction rules because such rules have “nothing to do with the game of basketball”?

I do what we are locally taught, and what we are rated on by our peers, and by members of our observation team.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by deecee

... a kid better have an exemption if he wants to play in a game I'm officiating with a helmet on.

Even with written documentation from the state, he still may not be able to wear a helmet (based on how one reads the casebook play below). The NFHS has specifically deemed helmets illegal, because the NFHS has decided that helmets are not appropriate for basketball.

3.5 SITUATION A: What are the standards which the referee must use in determining whether a team member will be permitted to wear certain equipment? ... The third criterion provides that equipment used must be appropriate for basketball and not be confusing. In this sense, gloves, football face masks and helmets are not acceptable.

Read the last sentence in 3.5 SITUATION A (note no comma after "mask"). Are all helmets illegal, or are football helmets illegal?

[SC Official]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If it's truly for a medical reason, then the team/player won't have any problem getting an exemption from the state authority. Until that is granted, I, as the Referee, cannot allow the kid to participate BY RULE.

If that's the way that works for you or the way it's expected from your assigner/association, great. Here, the expectation for things like this (which pose zero safety issues whatsoever) is to play along and write a report afterwards. If they didn't cross every T and dot every I, the state can issue the disciplinary action.

[JRutledge]

Originally Posted by Nevadaref

If it's truly for a medical reason, then the team/player won't have any problem getting an exemption from the state authority. Until that is granted, I, as the Referee, cannot allow the kid to participate BY RULE.

We were told these were not appropriate for basketball. Similar to a player wearing a cast which is for medical reasons. I think that is why each state has to make their own decision here. I cannot think of any reason why this would be required for medical reasons. If you have a concussion, this is not likely going to help you prevent that considering how concussions actually work. If that was the case than football helmets would prevent concussions.

Peace