Protective Gear Really Needed?

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by BillyMac

Source: Freddy

Can someone give me the rules reference for the protective padding and such? I missed it somewhere. I thought the only one who could wear padding was the backboard.

[JetMetFan]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

Can someone give me the rules reference for the protective padding and such? I missed it somewhere. I thought the only one who could wear padding was the backboard.

NFHS 3-5-2 probably deals with it best:

Guards, casts and braces must meet the following guidelines:

a. A guard, cast or brace made of a hard and unyielding substance, such as, but not limited to, leather, plaster, plastic or metal shall 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 with a closed-cell, slow-recovery foam padding no less than ½" thick.

c. Knee and ankle braces which are unaltered from the manufacturer's original design/production are permitted and do not require any additional padding/covering.

d. A protective face mask may be worn and made of hard material, but must be worn molded to the face with no protrusions.

e. Must be worn for medical reasons.

There really isn’t anything specific to elbow or knee pads. The generic concern is whatever a player wears can’t be a danger to anyone or provide an unfair advantage to the person wearing the padding. Basically if the rules don’t specifically say a player can’t wear something – or that a player has to wear something a specific way – then they can.

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by JetMetFan

NFHS 3-5-2 probably deals with it best:



There really isn’t anything specific to elbow or knee pads. The generic concern is whatever a player wears can’t be a danger to anyone or provide an unfair advantage to the person wearing the padding.

So I guess the general consensus is that knee pads, elbow pads, and other preventative padding are all legal. In my mind I guess I was reading the rule as : All of the listed equipment are for protection of an existing healing injury and/or prevention of re-injury to said "Medical reason." I was reading it as prevention of a first time injury (ie kneepads) as one thing and protection of an existing injury (ie healing strained ACL with knee brace) as another.

How can knee pads be "worn for medical reasons" if no injury exists? Thoughts?

[Bad Zebra]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

How can knee pads be "worn for medical reasons" if no injury exists? Thoughts?

Why are you associating knee/elbow pads with "medical reasons"? There is no rule dictating how or why they are worn or what color is worn (which seems pretty odd now that I think about it).

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Why are you associating knee/elbow pads with "medical reasons"? There is no rule dictating how or why they are worn or what color is worn (which seems pretty odd now that I think about it).

From the quoted rule:

e. Must be worn for medical reasons.

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by Bad Zebra

Why are you associating knee/elbow pads with "medical reasons"? There is no rule dictating how or why they are worn or what color is worn (which seems pretty odd now that I think about it).

That is kind of my point. I don't see where they are allowed for non medical reasons. They aren't part of the uniform and there is no clause to allow equipment for prevention of a non existant injury. And what bob said.

[johnny d]

Knee pads and elbow pads are not guards, casts, or braces and therefore are not covered by that rule.

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by johnny d

Knee pads and elbow pads are not guards, casts, or braces and therefore are not covered by that rule.

I agree with that -- I was only answering the "why do you associate it with medical devices" question.

I think it's covered under 3-5-1 and 3-5-5. Also comment 3.5A (from last year's book, at least)

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by johnny d

Knee pads and elbow pads are not guards, casts, or braces and therefore are not covered by that rule.

... nor are they necessarily sleeves, however some arm sleeves, and leg sleeves, have built in pads, in which case, they are sleeves.

Anybody got a couple of aspirin? I normally don't mind monitoring Fashion Police issues, but please, let's keep it above the waist.

[potato]

Isn't preventive measures to avoid injuries sort of a medical reason?

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

How can knee pads be "worn for medical reasons" if no injury exists? Thoughts?

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by potato

Isn't preventive measures to avoid injuries sort of a medical reason?

Hey Doc, how bout a couple of prescriptions for morphine and lortab. I might get injured and have pain sometime in the future. My answer is no. Nothing listed in any of the rules or case book mentions anything that has to do with prevention of injury. All of them are for treatment or protection of an existing injury. That's why I brought up gloves. They would be for protection and they are specifically banned in the case book as they are not necessary to play the game. IMO neither are helmets, knee pads or elbow pads (or arm sleeves or leg sleeves either).

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

Hey Doc, how bout a couple of prescriptions for morphine and lortab. I might get injured and have pain sometime in the future. My answer is no. Nothing listed in any of the rules or case book mentions anything that has to do with prevention of injury. All of them are for treatment or protection of an existing injury. That's why I brought up gloves. They would be for protection and they are specifically banned in the case book as they are not necessary to play the game. IMO neither are helmets, knee pads or elbow pads (or arm sleeves or leg sleeves either).

The difference is gloves can provide a distinct, direct advantage. Knee pads may provide an advantage (allowing a player to be a bit more reckless), but it's not nearly as direct as wearing, for example, wide receiver's gloves.

[Sharpshooternes]

Originally Posted by Adam

The difference is gloves can provide a distinct, direct advantage. Knee pads may provide an advantage (allowing a player to be a bit more reckless), but it's not nearly as direct as wearing, for example, wide receiver's gloves.

You said it.^^^

The case book states: 'The second standard provides that "any equipment which is unnatural and designed to increase the player's height or vertical reach, or to gain a competitive advantage, shall not be used."'

But I guess if they are allowed and everyone wears them there is no advantage gained.

[BillyMac]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

Hey Doc, how bout a couple of prescriptions for morphine and lortab. I might get injured and have pain sometime in the future. My answer is no.

It happens.

During my most recent kidney stone attack (my third one), I was screaming all the way to the hospital, I yelled at my brother-in-law to go through every red light, and as soon as I got into the emergency room, I started screaming for morphine. I swear, if I couldn't get painkillers, and if I had a gun, I would have shot myself.

Fast forward. Knowing that I will probably have another attack, I asked my doctor for a prescription for oxycodone, to take care of the pain while on the way to the nearest hospital emergency room. He gave me a few pills for home, and a few to put in my locker at work.

[Raymond]

Originally Posted by Sharpshooternes

Can someone give me the rules reference for the protective padding and such? I missed it somewhere. I thought the only one who could wear padding was the backboard.

I'm thinking that, since it doesn't say knee and elbow pads can't be worn, they are permissable.