Compression Sleeve
 

Compression sleeve with elbow pad. Legal or Illegal?

Athlete has a Dr. excuse to wear it. Legal or Illegal?

Legal if used for medical purposes.

Your state might have guidelines for what that means. In my area all they have to do is tell us it is for medical purposes and they can wear it. No note needed.

Peace

Some states/areas assume it's for medical purposes by the fact that the kid is wearing it. Other states require documentation. Many fall in between. We ask, but don't require documents.
Oddly, I've seen more kids say "no" when asked if it is for medical reasons than "yes."

Don't ask don't tell.
 

From the Federation level there is no rule on sleeves. NFHS said there does not seem to be a problem with them in HS so there is no rule. I have no idea what games they are watching as I had a lot of them last year. Each association or state may handle them differently however.

This year the federation clarified that and we went from asking if the item was for a medical reason to not asking anything.

My guess is we will see a ruling on it next year.

3-5-2: ...........compression sleeves must meet the following guidelines:

e. Must be worn for medical reasons.

Just A you are correct on your rule quote. The only time a compression sleeve is mentioned is in the ART. 2 and no other place a-e. Guards, casts, braces, and faces masks are specifically addressed however there is no mention of compression sleeves a-e. I think that is what the Federation meant when they said there is no rule for them.

From our state sanction last year they initially told us we had to ask if there was a medical wavier but we did not have to actually see it. Then later in the year we were told they didn't need a wavier and not to ask for it. Compression sleeves were fine let them be worn. So they can be any color or combinations of colors.

Again my guess is next year there will be specific guidelines for them.

There is no mention of any specific item in e, which says to me that it applies to all items in the article.

Agreed.


There are no guidelines on how to handle determing the medical necessity. With a guard or brace we don't ask for medical paperwork so why would the sleeve be any different?

Didn't know we were discussing paperwork. You said there was no rule on sleeves.

Not only is there a mention of these sleeves, the National Federation has used pictures to illustrate them. Not sure what you could be talking about "R" as you say there is no mention of them. The NF has used multiple pictures to show their legality in the Simplified and Illustrated Rulebook and the PowerPoint slides.

Sounds like someone thinks they are OK to me.

Peace

Kids Say The Darndest Things ...
 

Same situation as Sanqwells. As a result we now use the same procedure as The R. We just assume it's for a medical reason. Now that Allen Iverson has been banished to a Turkish prison, maybe these won't be worn for their "coolness" factor anymore?

This is how we've been instructed in N VA.

We will call the person over in warmups and ask that all important question, "Are you wearing your sleeve for a medical reason?"

"Yes" = it stays on.
"No" = it comes off.

We don't go plumbing for paperwork.

As Snaqs points out, more times than not, the answer has been "No" in when I ask too.

Sure, I've seen that too. I just keep asking until I get the correct answer. ;)

Lifelines ...
 

Too easy. I only offer three extra chances: Fifty-Fifty, Ask the Audience, and Phone-A-Friend.

From 2009-2010 Rulebook:

"ART. 2 . . . Guards, casts, braces and compression sleeves must meet the
following guidelines:
a. A guard, cast or brace made of hard and unyielding leather, plaster, pliable (soft) plastic, metal or any other hard substance may not be worn on the elbow, hand, finger/thumb, wrist or forearm; even though covered with soft padding.
b. Hard and unyielding items (guards, casts, braces, etc.) on the upper arm or shoulder must be padded.
c. Knee and ankle braces are permitted but all exposed hinges must be
covered. Most over-sleeves recommended by manufacturers are
acceptable. These braces may be padded or unpadded.
d. Must be worn for medical reasons."

Guards, casts, braces & compression sleeves can only be worn if medically needed, otherwise they should not be worn. Like mentioned earlier though it's up to each state governing body to determine if just asking is ok or if written proof is needed.

However at the same time, 3-7 states:

"The referee shall not permit any team member to participate if in his/her
judgment any item constitutes a safety concern, such as, but not limited to, a
player’s fingernails or hairstyle."

So if a guard, cast, brace, or compression sleeve, in the eyes of the R poses a safety concern, 3-5-2 can be nullified where the item even if medically needed would not be allowed.