Mouthguards

Jim D · #1 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 31, 2006, 08:38am

b Sooner, You may be 100% correct but you're arguing in the wrong courtroom. We don't make the rules, the NFHS does. When they say clear mouthpieces are legal, I'll allow players in my games to wear them. Until then, they are illegal equipment.

PSU213 · #2 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 31, 2006, 09:15am

First, the rule is very straight forward. There are no exceptions. If the NFHS wanted to allow these they would have included some exception that allowed a clear mouth piece if he has a note from the orthodontist, etc.

Also, here in PA our state rules interpreter was asked the question about the mouthpiece made by the orthodontist--if the are allowed to be completely clear. The answer he gave was a flat out "no."

BigFarns · #3 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 31, 2006, 05:12pm

I have never been so adamantly against the general opinion of this board as I am right now. I wore braces when I played too. I found the special top & bottom mouthguard a necessity because the one time I didn't wear it I got busted in the mouth and had to come out because of excessive bleeding! The orthodontist I had at the time said that it only came clear cause I was asking for a black or yellow one to match our team colors....so I had to be the odd-ball with a clear mouthguard.
Now I know it's the rule but I think it was just a poorly written rule. I'm guessing that the intent is to make it where we can see that the mouthguard is in because it's colored. This is so that the player will be safe. Why would we cause a kid to get his mouth torn to crap by forcing him to wear the standard mouthguard that protects only the top instead of allowing the doublesided one which is essentially what we are doing by stick with this colored mouthguard rule. Unless the one orthodontist I talked to in the area is just mis-informed by telling me they still only come clear which they did when I was playing.
I know some will say it's a rule and we need to enforce it...but when was the last time you saw someone enforce holding EVERY time it happens or enforce the helping the runner rule? You don't. You use common sense and make sure that the game moves along, everyone plays fair and noone gets an unfair advantage, right? You know you've seen a QB sneak and the fullback come up behind and just plow the QB to help him forward...and I've never in all my years around football seen anyone call it. Enforcing the mouthguard thing is silly.

There...I've ranted(probably a bit incoherently at times too, sorry)...I know I'm wrong in the eyes of the rulebook. And I'm wrong in our state. At our meeting yesterday I lost the arguement and it was decided to force the kids to use a colored mouthguard. I will enforce as I've been instructed but I think everyone has put certain kids in a annoying situation here...sure the kid won't be permenantly injured when his lower lip is bleeding like crazy from getting stuck by his braces...but I was sure annoyed when I got taken out of the game because of excessive bleeding the one time I lost my orthodontic mouthguard and used a regular one.

Mike L · #4 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 31, 2006, 06:54pm

Um, couldn't you just take a permanent ink Sharpie and draw some black lines across it? Does it now not meet the rule?

wisref2 · #5 (**permalink**) Thu Aug 31, 2006, 09:18pm

And if a kid wants to play without shoulder pads and his doctor says it's okay.

And if a kid wants to play without a helmet 'cause his doctor says it's okay.

This is an equipment rule and is very clear (no pun intended), and is not the same as holding and other rules, which take advantage gained into account.

Not enforcing this rule is flat out wrong. And if the kid gets hurt and you let him play with illegal equipment, you have no defense in a civil court.

And frankly, there is no good argument against enforcing an equipment rule.

BoomerSooner · #6 (**permalink**) Fri Sep 01, 2006, 12:48am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim D

b Sooner, You may be 100% correct but you're arguing in the wrong courtroom. We don't make the rules, the NFHS does. When they say clear mouthpieces are legal, I'll allow players in my games to wear them. Until then, they are illegal equipment.

I'm not sure if I was misunderstood here, but I was indeed supporting the position of not allowing clear mouthpieces. I was merely providing supporting evidence that says they aren't a medical/orthodontic requirement nor should it be that big an issue since these kids typically have a face mask to protect their mouth. Are kids going to get bloddy lips every now and then...sure, but even kids without braces can have these issues.