helmets

[achim.straub]

Hi @ll,

I´ve got a Problem with the helmets (Bauer, Itech) our team is using. We all have icehockey helmets. They are EN certified for icehockey and have mounting-points for faceguard. I think its a good choice to wear these helmets. I also think they are much more protective than any EN 1385 certified helmets. Now the problem:

We´re planing to join some tournaments in GB. Are we allowed to play with our helmets or do we have to buy "Polo"helmets with less covering of the head and in my opinion less protection compared to our icehockey helmets?

[Tony.G.]

Is the helmet like this one ?

:wavey:

[hoody]

Your best bet is to contact the tournament organisers first or look at Clydes polo page, clydespolopage.com. He has the lowdown on most of the legal helmets to use in the uk. On a more personal note we all use the peak polo helmets " Selkirk " and everyone has found them to be very good :D . Hope this is helpfull.

Hoody

[fins]

we at "West Lothian" all use Wild Water competition helmets as do most people in scotland

[achim.straub]

like this,

http://www.achim-straub.de/ebay/1504.jpg

[Cor]

I think it's important to know if these tournaments are international (according to ICF-rules) or National (BCU-rules). I read something about this before and I don't know anymore if it was a tread in this forum, or somewere else.

[michielv]

I understood that all equipment must be according to BCU rules for all BCU tournaments/competitions etc.

So, any (ICF legal) equipment which is not approved by the BCU may be used in non-BCU ICF tournaments I guess.

BTW: the BCU approval for helmets is all about a CE mark, not about safety or quality of that particular product. Perfectly legal and suitable equipment may not be approved by the BCU because a manufacturer may choose not to acquire CE certification.

For instance: I wonder whether the infamous Dynamic boat has been BCU approved? My guess is not (because of the small production numbers) but perhaps Rob Aitken can clearify this?

[Curly]

I've avoided this for a while, but here goes:

there are 2 seperate issues.

If you play in a BCU competition ....
(The National Leagues, National Champs, Regional Leagues, or any other tournament organised under the umbrella of the BCU Polo Committee)
..... then you must wear a CE approved helmet for kayaking. The much more protective ice hockey or motorcycle helmets which are CE aproved for other sports ARE NOT ALLOWED.

You must also paddle in an apprved boat (this means a design approved by the BCU polo committee),. - a list of approved designs is in the current yearbook.
OR
you can get a boat personally checked and approved, again details are available in the yearbook.

If you are playing in a tournament organised by an independant body in the UK, ....
for example the Liverpool, Hull or London Internationals.

....You are required to play in a boat that meets the ICF rules how this is checked is up the individual tournament organisers.

Helmets are a little more complicated, CE approval is a european issue, the fact that many nations are ignoring what we in GB believe to be the law is understood by tournament organisers, they will normally allow a helmet to be used it it offers a reasonable level of protection,

YOU should however check with the tournament organiser (who I would guess will tell you that they are not checking helmets for CE approval

[Orlando Silva]

• HELMET
1. The helmet must be a safety one and suitable. They must protect against any blow, which may be reasonably anticipated in the course of a game covering from the jaw line to the rear point of the skull, such that no contact is possible between the skull and a blade on a horizontally held paddle.


• FACE-PROTECTOR
1. The face protector must be of a strong material such as steel or any equal strong material. In any part of the face protector, an object 70 mm wide and 70 mm thick must not be able to enter. The face protector must be securely fixed to the helmet, without sharp or dangerous fixings. They may not present any sharp or dangerous part. It must protect against any blow that may be reasonably anticipated in the course of a game. It must cover the entire face of the player beginning at the lower level of the chin and covering the surface between the two temples.

Am I stupid or cant I see any CE certification in the ICF rules. :bang:

Why helmets? Why not body protection? Will it be the next step?

If there is no security increasing with this change, what’s the point? :thumbdown

I wonder if there’s any financial interest behind this CE certification…

Who is selling most of the helmets in the UK lately?

Anyway, it’s just me and my conspiracy theories.

[mrplaybus]

You are supposed to use a CE bouyancy aid (in the uk at least).

As there isn't one safety standard around the world then it's not likely to be in the ICF rules.

Personally if I was reffing and players were wearing that kind of helmet I'd be happy for them to do so.

laters
a

[Curly]

You do not have to wear a bouyancy aid to play canoe polo, either in ICF or BCU rules, you have to wear "Body Protection"

Once the EU notices this and there are standards for body protection for other sports you can bet that you will need CE approved body protection suitable for polo. It is the way the world is going....

(if you did have to wear a bouyancy aid it would have to be CE approved)

[Curly]

mr playbus

if you are reffing in the uk, you have a responsibility to make sure that players you are reffing are wearing CE helmets, in BCU comptetitions, it is not up to you which of the rules you choose to enforce as the ref!!

(and which you don't!!)

[mrplaybus]

Sorry Curly. My mistake.