tinted prescription eyewear

Question
I saw your previous responses to this question. My  year old in Pop Warner in Orange County CA was told that he could not play with his prescription tinted Rec Spec goggles which do not attach to the helmet and have an elastic band which wraps around the outside corner of the eye making it easier to remove if necessary in the event of an injury. The coach of the other team chose to enforce this rule during the third quarter of the game and said that my son could not play with these glasses. We are also having a very difficult time getting the same prescription made without the tint due to my son's prescription. Is this actually a rule that the players cannot wear prescription tinted eyewear?

Answer
Jessica
Please know that Pop Warner Football in Southern California is played under Federation Rules.  There is no federation or NCAA rule that prohibits a player from playing in prescription tinted glasses, contacts or goggles.  The "actual rule governs eyeshields or visors that attach to the helmet.
With that said I did verify with the assignor of football officials for Pop Warner in Orange County, CA that there is a Pop Warner Policy that prohibits a players from wear prescription tinted eyewear (except contact lens).

I do not agree with the policy and it misses the point lobbied by the National Athletic Trainers Association that brought about the rule prohibiting tinted visors/eye shields.  The NATA opined that if a player needed or wanted a tinted eye shield, it could be achieved best by glasses or contact lens that could be easily removed to allow access to the pupils without risk of moving a players head or neck.

Rules Committee for the NCAA and Federation cited reports from the NCAA抯 Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sport and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA), in which both groups supported eliminating allowance for tinted eye shields or visors. Both groups noted that there are alternatives to the helmet shields if an eye condition warrants protection (contact lenses, sport goggles, etc.).

But it seems the Pop Warner governing body has prohibited the use of tinted goggles per their policy.

FOLLOW UP - HAVE YOU HAD ANY RESOLVE WITH THIS ISSUE?
I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL OFFICIALS AND ASSIGNORS OF POP WARNER, INCLUDING OFFICIALS INVOLVED IN Pop Warner in Orange County CA.  THE ALL ADVISE OF THE E"POP WARNER" RULE THAT ANY TINTED LENS FROM A VISOR, EYE SHIELD OR GLASSES ARE PROHIBITED BY LOCAL POP WARNER RULES.  THEY ARE UNAWARE OF ANY EXCEPTIONS AND ADVISE THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT IS NOT ISOLATED TO YOU AND YOU WOULD NEED TO ADDRESS IT TO THE POP WARNER BOARD AND/RULES COMMITTEE.

BOTH THE NATIONAL FEDERATION OF HIGH SCHOOLS AND NCAA RULES REGULATE VISORS AND EYE SHIELDS THAT ATTACH TO THE FACE MASK, NOT GLASSES, GOGGLES OR CONTACT LENSES.  THE PLAYING RULES REQUIRE ANY EYE SHIELDS/VISOR TO BE CLEAR, WITHOUT ANY DEGREE OF TINT, MADE OF HARD MOLDED MATERIAL.  THERE ARE NOT MEDICAL EXCEPTIONS OR MEDICAL WAIVERS FOR THIS RULE - TO PERMIT A TINTED VISOR/EYE SHIELD.  BOTH RULES COMMITTEES RELIED ON THE NATA [NATIONAL ATHLETIC TRAINERS ASSOCIATION] AND OTHER SPORTS MEDICINE PROFESSIONALS WHEN CREATING THIS RULE.  THEY CONTEMPLATED PLAYERS WHO HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE TINTED LENS [i.e. eye condition, migraines, etc] AND OPINED THAT THE PLAYER'S REMEDY WOULD BE TO WEAR TINTED GLASSES OR CONTACT LENSES RATHER THAN A TINTED VISOR/EYE SHIELD. IN MY OPINION THE POP WARNER RULE, WHILE I AM SURE WELL INTENDED AND IN THE INTEREST OF PLAYER SAFETY, FAILS TO FOLLOW THE INTENT OR REASONABLE REMEDY FOR MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT REQUIRE TINTED LENSES.  I JUST WANTED TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU TO SEE IF THERE IS ANY PROGRESS.
BEST WISHES,

Additional Follow up:  Please know th eCIF Blue Book does not address this issue and the CIF defers to the National Federation of High Schools football rules.  As indicated above tinted glasses or goggles are not prohibited equipment, only tinted visors and eye shields are prohibited.  I have not been able to locate a written POP Warner rule addressing this issue either.

http://www.popwarner.com/admin/rules.asp  this requires a password to view online and I do not have a password for access
I believe the Pop Warner Rules requires Eyeglasses ?if worn must be athletic approved, non-shattering.  It doesn't regulate the tinting og th eeye glasses or goggle.