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 (box)

• young wicket keepers should wear a helmet with a faceguard 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).

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.

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. ECB is currently working with manufacturers in order to

achieve a British Standard in relation to all face protection technology for juniors.

In the meantime The NZ and Australian cricket helmet standard AS/NZS 4499 is

the closest standard for the faceguard. The standard has three parts to it -

(4499.1) the helmet (4499.2) the temple pieces and (4499.3) the grill. The nature

of the product is such that the only relevant part of that standard is part 3, and

not all the parts of the test apply mainly because the faceguard does not attach

to a helmet.

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.