Helmet sticker removal / my rant 4 2day

[Rustyhole 1]

Why do they say not to remove helmet certification stickers (CSA/FSA/etc.) on back of helmet. They make it sound like it's a major no-no. I did, although I don't play in a actual league; just shinny & with the co. team. I don't see the rink attendants inspecting helmets or the rink having dedicated inspectors (hahahahaha) so why shouldn't we be able to take them off. I haven't modified the helmet otherwise. Perfectly good Bauer 5000. Seems stupid. It's more important to me to know the condition of my helmet and when it needs to be replaced, but they seem to feel that (o my god) if I don't have the sticker there I may be putting myself at risk and I 'could' go to jail or pay a fine.

p.s. - 'they' are the gov't.

[asdfa 0]

my guess is there are liability issues, for example, if you injure yourself while playing hockey, and decide for some reason to sue the rink, the rink can say "but look your honor, his helmet wasn't certified" simply because there were no stickers.

[prenny207 1]

the rule states that the helmets have the cert stickers... it's the rule!!!!

technically, a ref can throw you out of a game for not having those stickers.

the refs need to know that all players are wearing a certified helmet. do they follow up on that rule, not usually, but i have seen it enforced. the issue is not so much that you took the stickers off... what really comes into play, is that there are helmets out there that are NOT certified by the manufacturer, and the cert boards... the certified helmets have the stickers so that the refs know that you are wearing one of the proper helmets.

[chippa13 1844]

Helmet certification is for those leagues which require a player to wear a certified helmet. In order for referees in those leagues to know that players are wearing the certified helmets is for the helmet to have the stickers on them. It is just the easiest way of identifying them.

[iceholes 0]

Every helmet has them thats certified... what bothers you about them stickers?..

sounds like you could better spend your ranting energy elsewhere...like te price of sticks!! :D :D :D

to each his own...

[QandA 0]

At my referee course, the question was brought up, and I was told that as long as you can tell it's a fairly new helmet, no need to make a hassle over it. I don't have stickers on my players helmet...

[MNdgame 0]

Rather than take the risk you can just put a piece of matching color electrical tape over top of it and you cant even see it, thats what I did(makes it easier if you have a black or white helmet, but they have it in every color in the rainbow).

[chippa13 1844]

If you want the stickers off then just use your heat gun for about 2 seconds on it and that will melt the glue on the back of the sticker so you can easily peel it off.

[mik3 1]

BUT, if you god forbid fall with a helmet on and get brain damage or something, you pretty much can't sue bauer/THC/itech. Suing the ref who let you play is another thing.

[chippa13 1844]

Can't sue the manufacturer either way since they have a nice disclaimer on equipment telling you that hockey is a contact sport and that no equipment can completely protect you from injury or death.

[mik3 1]

In the states, people will sue even if it's stated. We're shifty people

[Chadd 916]

In the states, people will sue even if it's stated. We're shifty people

you forgot the one important part, "will sue and win even if it's stated."

[mik3 1]

yep, there's sewing classes with fewer loopholes than the US legal system.

[chippa13 1844]

In the states, people will sue even if it's stated. We're shifty people

you forgot the one important part, "will sue and win even if it's stated."

Actually, it's sue and settle for the most part. However, I think in a case of wearing hockey equipment to play hockey you would have a hard time winning the case.

Now, if you do something stupid with it that gets you hurt or killed then your stupidity could win you or your family some cash. Just look at some of the warnings on household products and tools and you'll see what I mean. Those warnings arise from people doing stupid things.

[mik3 1]

That's my favorite part about crazy warnings. Like on a snowblower "don't put your hand directly in the chute". For them to have that warning, it means a few people did it. Just like the things you can't sell on ebay, such as feces. Yet again, if you can't do it, it means someone probably tried. I <3 my country.

[Neo5370 132]

BUT, if you god forbid fall with a helmet on and get brain damage or something, you pretty much can't sue bauer/THC/itech. Suing the ref who let you play is another thing.

Don't most leagues also require you to sign a waver that absolves the rink and or refs of personal injury responsibility?

[Chadd 916]

BUT, if you god forbid fall with a helmet on and get brain damage or something, you pretty much can't sue bauer/THC/itech. Suing the ref who let you play is another thing.

Don't most leagues also require you to sign a waver that absolves the rink and or refs of personal injury responsibility?

Yes, but any negligence on the part of either one and you have grounds for a lawsuit.

[thunderbirds_are_go 0]

The main issue is that players have been known to sue referees who let them play with uncertified equipment and then injure themselves.

A good example is helmet stickers - according to the rules, no modifications can be made to the helmet without voiding the certification - including putting stickers on the helmet. The reason? Some stickers can corrode plastic, weakening it. Most probably wont, but all it takes is for it to happen once, and the effected player deciding to sue the referee for letting him wear it, that get's ref's being anal about it to cover themselves in case it happens to them. Because lets face it, even if they sue you and lose, you're still going to be stuck with a hefty lawyers bill and time off work to go to court etc. It's the danger of this type of thing happening that gives me the most respect for referees.

[chippa13 1844]

But ordinarily if someone sues you and loses then you can file a countersuit to recover your lawyer fees from the party that sued you.

[thunderbirds_are_go 0]

Yes, you can, though I'm not sure how sure you are to get your money. Plus if you fail in that, you're out even more on lawyers fees, plus there's the time and general agrievation involved. Even in the best case scenario it's going to be a pain in the ass.