Are helmets compulsory?

[cover drive man]

When I play in my backyard with my brothers or when I play in P.E lessons with my mates I'm a pretty decent batter. But when I play with a helmet I'm awful my question is are helmets compulsory?

 

[sideshowtim]

When I play in my backyard with my brothers or when I play in P.E lessons with my mates I'm a pretty decent batter. But when I play with a helmet I'm awful my question is are helmets compulsory?

Depends where you play. I know my local cricket association has made helmets compulsary in junior cricket. This may vary from place to place. They are most certainly not compulsary in International and State cricket though.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

You should always cover you head when your goin in.

 

[Pratters]

Helmets aren't compulsory. However, it is advisable to wear them when fielding close in or batting against the faster bowlers to avoid serious injury.

 

[vic_orthdox]

You need to get used to them, because you'll need them if you hope to play a high standard of cricket.

 

[The Baconator]

When I play in my backyard with my brothers or when I play in P.E lessons with my mates I'm a pretty decent batter. But when I play with a helmet I'm awful my question is are helmets compulsory?

Could it not just be you're facing better bowlers when you're wearing a helmet?

 

[PhoenixFire]

I think there is some ECB regulation that under 16s (maybe 18s) have to wear helmets when playing with a hard ball. I'm sure Pickup will know.

 

[iamdavid]

They're compulsory in junior cricket here in Canberra and I suspect its the same around Australia.
And unless you're Viv Richards you should probably get used to them.

 

[albo97056]

I think there is some ECB regulation that under 16s (maybe 18s) have to wear helmets when playing with a hard ball. I'm sure Pickup will know.

U19s i think.

 

[Goughy]

When the law about having to wear helmets came in to the UK for players under a certain age there was the inclusion of a provision that allowed players to bat without one if a parent signed a set form. Not sure if it still the same.

 

[James90]

You need to get used to them, because you'll need them if you hope to play a high standard of cricket.

Yep. That's exactly right. A guy I'm playing with at the moment got hit in the face with a bouncer playing B1 subdistricts here in Brisbane. Shattered his nose and bone went into artery. Lengthy stay in hospital and three bags of blood later he now wears a helmet.

As for the idea of them being compulsory I've never heard of it being enforced. I'm coaching a team at the moment and while the paperwork says it's strongly recommended I certainly don't tell the kids they need to wear one.

 

[albo97056]

When the law about having to wear helmets came in to the UK for players under a certain age there was the inclusion of a provision that allowed players to bat without one if a parent signed a set form. Not sure if it still the same.

No its compulsary now, changed last year

 

[Neil Pickup]

In England, all players under the age of 18 must wear a helmet when batting or wicket keeping standing up to the stumps during a senior cricket match.

The only exceptions to this rule may occur in junior age group cricket, and even then written parental consent must be provided. Many leagues and clubs will not even accept this and require all juniors to wear lids.

 

[howardj]

I find that, in suburban cricket that most of us play, the pitches are so slow that you're actually very little chance of being hit in the head. That's why I haven't ever really worn a helmet, even though I'm an opener.

 

[Jamee999]

Yeah, but that doesn't rule out an edge into your jaw, does it?

 

[Goughy]

Yeah, but that doesn't rule out an edge into your jaw, does it?

Yeah, I dont wear one unless someone is pretty quick, or more likely Im going to be taking on the spinners.

Ive no issue with kids being made to wear them, as I think the legal side is more important than the technical issues it will cause. 18 is a bit strict. Make it 16 IMO

 

[Jamee999]

MLB base coaches and wearing of helmets.

 

[PhoenixFire]

I wouldn't ever consider not wearing a helmet tbh, even when netting. I've always worn one and I just feel really unsafe not wearing one. Got a nice titanium one so it's pretty light and fits well so it doesn't bother me.

 

[Pup Clarke]

Am struggling to come up with a reason as why you'd not want to wear a helmet.

 

[Richard]

Had never worn a helmet in my life, despite facing one or two pretty sharp bowlers on some less-than-ideal pitches, up to the 1999 season. And indeed had only seen 1 batsman wearing such a thing in that time, said batsman receiving considerable mocking from my team-mates.

The following season (and the one after, and the one after), no-one on my side or any opposing one ever walked out to bat without one. These days, it's very rare to see anyone under the age of 24-25 batting without one, and you also see plenty of those above said age wearing. In this country, at least - not sure of the situation elsewhere.

Batting without a helmet simply isn't a terribly sensible thing to do. If you're good enough that the bowling doesn't threaten you - you're getting into bad habits. If you're not - your life is at risk. And that's no hyperbole.