ECB Helmet Guidance
ECB Guidance Note: Safety measures for helmets within recreational cricket
The ECB has recently announced new helmet safety measures, which are being introduced with a view to reducing the risk of head and facial injuries within the game. The purpose of this brief note is to assist Leagues and Clubs at the recreational level to understand the key elements of these changes and what they mean.
Players over the age of 18
The ECB strongly recommends that all adult recreational cricketers should wear helmets for certain activities, preferably which meet the most recent British Safety Standard (see below). This recommendation applies to batting against all types of bowling, wicket-keepers standing up to the wicket (who may as an alternative wear face protectors) and fielders fielding closer than eight yards from the batsman’s middle stump, except behind the wicket on the off side.
Under 18s
The position in relation to u18s currently remains unchanged, and is governed by the ‘ECB Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets by Young Players’ (www.ecb.co.uk/youngplayershelmetguidance). In essence, batsmen and wicket-keepers standing up to the stumps must wear head protection when playing or practising. That Guidance should be referred to in full for the position in relation to u18s.
British Safety Standard
The latest British Safety Standard is BS7928:2013 (for both adults and juniors). The full list of helmets meeting this standard is listed below. For wicket-keeping face protectors the relevant British Safety Standard is BS7929-2:2009 (again, for both adults and juniors).
The list of known head protectors that have met BS7928:13 as of 18 April 2016
Tested against men’s balls:
Ayrtek
Premier Tek with Steel faceguard
Gray-Nicolls
Atomic Helmet
Test Opener Helmet
Omega XRD
Gunn & Moore
Icon Geo Senior Large
Icon Geo Senior
Icon Geo Senior Small
Purist Geo Senior
Zona Geo Senior Large
Zona Geo Senior
Zona Geo Senior Small
Kookaburra
Pro 400 Senior
Viper Senior
Pro 800 Senior
Masuri
Vison Series Elite Titanium
Vision Series Elite Steel
Vision Series Test Titanium
Vision Series Test Steel
Vision Series Club Senior
Reader
Sovereign Senior
Shrey
Master Class AIR Titanium
Pro Guard AIR Titanium
Master Class AIR Stainless Steel
Pro Guard AIR Stainless Steel
Armor Senior Steel
Performance Senior Steel
Slazenger
International (senior)
Tested against both men’s and junior balls:
Gray-Nicolls
Atomic Helmet
Test Opener Helmet
Omega XRD Helmet
Gunn & Moore
Icon Geo Senior
Icon Geo Senior Small
Purist Geo Senior
Zona Geo Senior
Zona Geo Senior Small
Masuri
Vision Series Elite Titanium
Vision Series Elite Steel
Vision Series Test Titanium
Vision Series Test Steel
Shrey
Armor Senior Steel
Armor Junior/Youth Steel
Performance Senior Steel
Performance Junior/Youth Steel
Tested against junior balls:
Gray-Nicolls
Atomic Helmet
Test Opener Helmet
Omega XRD Helmet
Gunn & Moore
Icon Geo Senior
Icon Geo Senior Small
Icon Geo Junior
Purist Geo Senior
Purist Geo Junior
Zona Geo Senior
Zona Geo Senior Small
Zona Geo Junior
Kookaburra
Pro 400 Junior
Pro 400 Mini
Pro 800 Junior
Viper Junior
Masuri
Vision Series Elite Titanium
Vision Series Elite Steel
Vision Series Test Titanium
Vision Series Test Steel
Vision Series Club Boys
Vision Series Club Youths
Reader
Sovereign Junior
Sovereign Mini
Shrey
Armor Senior Steel
Armor Junior/Youth Steel
Performance Senior Steel
Performance Junior/Youth Steel
Slazenger
International (junior)
When a new helmet meets the BS7928:2013 standard, and are certified (CE) to be in conformity with Council Directive 89/686/EEC and associated amendments relating to personal protective equipment, manufacturers are asked to provide documentary evidence of this compliance to helmets@ecb.co.uk , so that the helmet can be added to the list.
The ECB understands that there is currently no specific women’s helmet and as a consequence no specific standard for women’s cricket helmets. As the size of the standard women’s cricket ball is between the standard men and junior balls, it is recommended that women use helmets that have been tested against both the men’s and junior sized ball, or at least against the junior size ball (as that could potentially get through the gap above the face guard on a men’s helmet).
What do Leagues and Clubs need to do?
Whilst it is strongly recommended that all adult recreational cricketers wear helmets in the on-field circumstances detailed above, it is not mandatory for them to do so. For the avoidance of doubt, Leagues or Clubs do not need to go above and beyond the ECB’s recommendation by forcing their cricketers to wear helmets.
However, Leagues and Clubs in recreational cricket should ensure that their cricketers are made aware of the ECB’s above recommendation in relation to helmets, including the need to check that any newly purchased helmets meet the latest British Safety Standard. The ECB recommends that Leagues and Clubs bring the link above (i.e www.ecb.co.uk/helmets) to the attention of their cricketers and encourage all cricketers to carefully consider their own health and safety regarding helmet use.
Leagues and Clubs should always ensure that they have adequate public liability insurance.
To download a copy of the poster click on the image below
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