Bassetlaw and District Cricket League Official Handbook 2018

182  Appendix 2 – ECB Safety Guidance on the Wearing of Cricket Helmets (“Head Protectors”) by Young Players In February 2000 the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) issued safety guidance  on the wearing of helmets by young players up to the age of 18.  In brief, the guidance  recommends that:  •  Helmets with a faceguard or grille should be worn when batting against  a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice sessions.  •  Young players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item  of protective equipment when batting, together with pads, gloves and,  for boys, an abdominal protector.  •  Young wicket keepers should wear a helmet with a faceguard, or a  wicketkeeper face protector when standing up to the stumps.  With the assistance of schools, cricket clubs and leagues, the wearing of helmets by  young players is now standard practice in cricket throughout England and Wales.   Helmets are widely available and are covered by a British Standard (BS7928:1998).  A  face protector represents an alternative head protection system for young wicket  keepers.  Face protectors are, at the time of publication of this guidance, a relatively  new innovation. Wicketkeeper Face Protectors are covered by a new British Standard  (BS7928‐2:2009).  The original guidance allowed parents or guardians to give their written consent to  allow a young player not to wear a helmet.  However now parental consent not to  wear a helmet should not be accepted in any form of cricket.  This guidance applies to all players up to the age of 18, both in adult cricket and in all  junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball.  The guidance also applies during all practice sessions.  Any individual taking  responsibility for players should take all reasonable steps to ensure that this guidance  is followed at all times.  The ECB asks that the guidance is communicated to the parents or guardians of all  young players through clubs and schools, and that young players are not allowed to  bat or stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard ball without  wearing appropriate protection.