QuestionHi,
I've been playing NCAFA football for 10 years now, and last year before the season started (December), i bought a yellow oakley football visor. The employee I talked to at the store (Vezina & Vezina Opticians) assured me that i would be able to wear my new visor with the no tint rule we have.
I wore it for our first game, and the other teams coaches complained to the ref to have me benched, saying i had illegal equipment..
This visor is the same as the clear visor, but yellow. my pupils are clearly visible through it, which i believe was the problem with the tinted visors.
So my question,
Is my yellow visor legal under the no tint visor rule?
Thank you!
AnswerJay
I am an NCAA Football Expert your question is out of my area of expertise, but I will address it generally and under National Collegiate Athletic Association Football rules. I am not familiar with NCAFA or their playing rules, but assume you are referring to the National Capital Football Coaches Association (NCFCA)in Canada.
May I suggest you contact one of the following Canadian Football Officials below. They will be able to give you the exact rule. I do not personal know them otherwise I would contact them my self to discuss. If you explain you were refereed to them because they are They :
President: Bernie Deveau
Secretary: John Kachuik
Treasurer: Cliff Bartsch
E-Mail:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
ONTARIO
Mike Groleau (905) 664-3383 x 318 (W)
[email protected]
QU葿EC
Ron Paluzzi
[email protected]
MANITOBA / SASKATCHEWAN
Ron Hallock
[email protected]
BC / ALBERTA
Dennis Abbott
[email protected]
Rationale:
Under "NCAA" playing rules, a Yellow visor is illegal equipment. There can be no tinting or coloring of any degree or to any extent. Therefore a yellow visor that allows the pupil to be seen is still illegal equipment. The reason for this is derived from a sports medicine/ safety basis. The National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)in the U.S. petitioned or lobbied the rules committee to make eye shields/visors illegal equipment if they had any amount tinting. Players with neck & head injuries are to have their cervical spine immobilize for precautionary reasons. Such a player would also need to have his pupils evaluated to determine id there were any [head] neurological or brain injury. A player with a tinted visor dose not allow the sports medical or emergency medical personnel to properly evaluate the pupils. To properly evaluate the pupils medical personnel needs to have total access to the players pupils. Thus to do so they would have to remove the eyeshield that could cause unnecessary jostling of the head and neck. Evaluating the pupils through an eyeshield/visor with tinting does not give accurate data as to whether the pupils are equal and reactive to light. The slightest of tinting can mask the pupils reaction/response to light. A totally clear eyeshield with no degree of tinting will not affect the light waves on the pupil's response. 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.
The exact rule addressing visors under US football playing rules [NCAA & NFHS] are:
NCAA FOOTBALL RULE 1-4-5-s
Illegal Equipment:
ARTICLE 5. No player wearing illegal equipment shall be permitted to play. Any question as to the legality of a player抯 equipment shall be decided by the umpire. Illegal equipment includes the following:
...
s. Eye shields that are not clear or made from molded or rigid material. Note: No player wearing illegal equipment shall be permitted to play. If illegal equipment is discovered by an official, the team shall be charged a team timeout.
National Federation of High School football Rule 1-5-3-n the rule is the same as the NCAA's. The eyeshield must be a molded rigid material that is 100% translucent without any color or tinting.
Hope this answers your question,
Vic Winnek
NCAA Football Official
