The Continuing Goggle Problem

I really don't want to beat a dead horse. But I do wish it would die, by being withdrawn. The high school use of so-called safety goggles is unlikely to be reversed.  There are those who see additional equipment as enhancing the game.  Yes, it enhances the profitability of the game for those seeking to sell goggles, by millions of dollars.  It creates an illusion that it makes a player safer.

There is a good reason that field hockey has always had a better safety record than other team sports.  Respect and reason were designed into the sport.  Part of the reason field hockey players wear so little padding is because of mutual respect. If one is vulnerable, one knows better than to tackle from the blind side.  It is the reason there are rules about dangerous play.  It is the reason everyone plays with the stick held at the top by the left hand. It is the reason behind using the flat side of the stick.

As stated recently in a Yahoo feature about dangerous sports, field hockey didn't even get on the radar. Football, softball, cheer leading,  lacrosse, soccer, and ice hockey had higher casualties; in numbers and in ratio to participants. CLICK FOR FULL ARTICLE. The study was taken before high schools were manipulated into mandating goggles. In the USA the wearing of goggles was required by the organization that dictates high school sports.  Those who manufacture and sell the goggles would like to increase their business. The perception that goggles make one safer helps widen their market.

Umpire and field hockey organizer, Cris Maloney, observed that younger children are being targeted for goggle sales. "I was sickened the other day," Maloney said, "when I saw a pair of little, tiny goggles at a sporting goods store labeled for field hockey. I am also sickened when I see youth programs and middle schools requiring them. Not only because the kids are wearing something so counter intuitive to developing field hockey skills but because the camp owners and middle school athletic directors probably think they're doing the right thing.

The thing is, when a kid gets hurt because of the goggles, their parents will realize that the goggle requirement was specifically designed for high school age athletes playing in games strictly governed by NFHS rules being enforced by two certified umpires---not camp activities, not middle school games. Those things are completely outside the scope of concerns considered by the NFHS. Lawyers are going to have a field day when a little boy or girl gets hurt in a middle school game or at a camp that required the kids to wear goggles."

Those who know the sport, understand that the wearing of goggles, rather than decreasing risk of injury, increases danger.   This is why USA Field Hockey prohibits the wearing of goggles at all its sanctioned events.  Some other  groups have bucked the trend and prohibited the wearing of the goggles.  Last year at  least one school required goggles at their camps.This year they don't.  Below is the statement directly from the website of the Ocean Atlantic Field Hockey Association ( http://www.oafha.org ) :

Avoiding the Dangers of Wearing Goggles 

Use of goggles is banned at all Ocean Atlantic Field Hockey Association events because they are dangerous. Players wearing goggles have restricted and/or distorted vision which creates dangers for themselves and the players around them. Further, goggles are hard and can injure other athletes during collisions (lacerations, bruises, and in some case concussions). In addition, when an athlete wearing goggles falls to the ground the goggles can causes injuries that would not occur if the athlete fell to the ground when not wearing goggles. In two completely different incidents, girls wearing goggles who fell to the ground broke their nose and received lacerations when the goggles were ripped across their face when they hit the ground.