Does your league mandate eye protection?

[Shark#81 0]

Just wondering if most leagues have an eye protection policy. Our league doesn't but I really think it should.

[tro 4]

Yes, one of my leagues made a min Visor rule this year.

[noodle3872 40]

Nope, not yet anyway.

[the_sock 1]

The rec league I play in doesn't, but I believe one made half visors minimum manditory

[17D1998 1]

Yes, cage is mandatory. Even if I could I wouldn't wear a visor, too many reckless doofuses on the ice ahah

[mug25 2]

I dont think any adult league in South Florida here mandates a cage or visor. I wear a curved Bauer and am considering going with the Shield/Cage combo after getting a stick in the mouth last week.

[Machinehead2k5 32]

AAHL in Atlanta. Visor or more for everyone under AAA level in Open League. I'm pretty sure it's at least Visor for REC league.

[Chadd 916]

Just wondering if most leagues have an eye protection policy. Our league doesn't but I really think it should.

Do what you want and allow others the same freedom. Why should you get to decide what the other guys have to use?

[Trooper 8]

Do what you want and allow others the same freedom. Why should you get to decide what the other guys have to use?

Some of the mens leagues around here don't, although I don't know how they can justify it financially. I would have to think insurance has to be an issue.

[W.Heinle 0]

Not mandatory in my league either.

[Chadd 916]

Some of the mens leagues around here don't, although I don't know how they can justify it financially. I would have to think insurance has to be an issue.

It's not an issue for some rinks as long as it falls under USA Hockey insurance. I'm surprised as well, but I'm a big fan of letting adults make their own decisions.

[tips09 0]

It's not an issue for some rinks as long as it falls under USA Hockey insurance. I'm surprised as well, but I'm a big fan of letting adults make their own decisions.

Have to agree with you on this one chadd, after juniors or whatever adults should be able to make their own decisions

[tareatingrat 4]

Despite my opinions on eye and face protection, I do think people should have a choice.

You don't have to wear facial protection in my league, but:

It is recommended that all players wear a CSA approved full-face protection. A

player choosing not to wear full-face protection, will have the insurance for facial

injuries lowered accordingly for wearing a CSA approved half-visor or no facial

protection at all. (www.csa-international.org)

I would venture that is similar for most leagues.

EDIT: Funny this came up, as I just looked at my old league to see what they said about the topic and this was right on the front page:

In order to qualify for facial injury or dental reimbursement under the League's national sport accident insurance policy, Players will be required to wear a CSA approved full face shield OR a CSA approved half visor AND mouth guard combination. Players who do not meet these facial protection requirements will forfeit their right to reimbursement for any facial injury or loss (including dental).

Which, in all fairness, is what it should be.

[Shark#81 0]

Reasons not to wear a visor:

Competitive advantage (without), clearer vision & auditory senses

Fogging and reduced air flow

Negative image in the pop media/socially

Not used to it/visual distortion

Cost & inconvenience

The above obviously outweighs the reasons to, for a lot of players. But I think because of the play advantage without, this is the reason it should be mandated by any league that is a) not pro and b) doesn't have compensation on the ready.

Eg. Berard got $6.5 Mill for his injury. He returned it when he made his comeback. pros are a different animal.

[Shark#81 0]

dblpost

[Shark#81 0]

Reasons not to wear a visor:

Competitive advantage (without), clearer vision & auditory senses

Fogging and reduced air flow

Negative image in the pop media/socially

Not used to it/visual distortion

Cost & inconvenience

The above obviously outweighs the reasons to, for a lot of players. But I think because of the play advantage without, this is the reason it should be mandated by any league that is a) not pro and b) doesn't have compensation on the ready.

Eg. Berard got $6.5 Mill for his injury. He returned it when he made his comeback. pros are a different animal.

[IniNew 53]

The only thing on that list that holds any water is the cost, and possibly not wanting to get used to it. the visors these days (read Oakley specifically) have no visual distortion. I've noticed many people actually play more aggressively with some sort of facial protection as they feel safer.

[Shark#81 0]

New visors are good, but after careful analysis, the Oaks distorted vertically one way, the Itechs about the same amount the other way. I was practicing with an Oak playing with an Itech - bad combination!

Somebody yaks about wearing a visor, although not so much in the last year or two.

Sundin with visor vs Sundin w/o visor. I think if you are young (= better vision/senses), used it all your life and are really good, obviously you can play well in spite of a visor.

[Chadd 916]

The only valid reason I can think of to not wear a visor at a minimum is because it's too scratched up and the new one is still in the mail.

[BobbyD9 0]

I don't even get the reason to wear a visor. Having taken a few stick blades to the cage, I am glad I have it. Our rink requires a minimum of a visor, but 98% wear a cage or cage/visor combo.

[saba 0]

HNA does not but most other rinks in the area do. I cannot tolerate cage only no visor rules:hence you will never see me in a Kettler nor Fairfax league. My visor is good enough for me

[Shark#81 0]

I have to say that from my experience severe eye injuries are actually relatively rare. Back in the 70's two kids in our school had like 90% loss of sight as a result of hockey sticks. Since the early 80's I have taken maybe 6 or 8 direct hits off the visor, from both pucks and sticks.... which is the same for me & seat belts - saved my bacon about 4 or 5 times, and i use them everyday of course.

Compare to other pces of protective gear:

shins - every game

gloves - every game

pants - every other game

elbow pads - every other game

helmet - once a season

visor - " " if that

mouthguard (once or twice in 20 years)

Oh yeah - saw our team captain tonite his eye looked good, healing he's going to be OK. distance vision is blurry. goes back to the specialist on thursday. i gave him a new bauer visor!!

[CharlesC 0]

I personally play with a full cage on, and never plan to take it off. I do agree that adults should be entitled to make their own decisions, but for amateur hockey I don’t think that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Charles

[raganblink 82]

I saw a good rule imo a while ago.

D league (beginner) cage mandatory.

C league visor mandatory.

B league visor mandatory.

a league nothing mandatory.

Takes into account your level of experience, and ability to control yourself. Ice definitely noticed this helping out in d league, guys are wild with their sticks.

[JKranz24 1]

HNA does not but most other rinks in the area do. I cannot tolerate cage only no visor rules:hence you will never see me in a Kettler nor Fairfax league. My visor is good enough for me

Actually, Kettler only has mandatory cage for C1, which is the lowest of the low-end leagues. I'm not sure about C2 or C3, but B and A leagues don't require visors or cages.