The England Hockey confirmed today that after consulting with the FIH, the following and illustrated facial protection masks do not not meet the requirement of the Rules of Hockey that: “field players … are permitted to wear a smooth preferably transparent or white but otherwise single coloured face mask which closely fits the face when defending a penalty corner."
These masks do not
“closely fit the face” and is not
“smooth”.
The masks in question are the Obo Face Off 2 (pictured left) and the TK 3 Facemask (pictured below)
The TK 1 and TK 2 and the Obo FaceOff 1 facemasks as illustrated below are NOT deemed illegal and MAY be used.
All players, team managers, technical officials and umpires need to be aware that use of the mask is therefore banned in all senior, junior, indoor and outdoor hockey.
Further, the FIH Medical Committee is of the view that the mask poses a potential risk to an opponent in a collision. It does not therefore meet the further requirement in the Rules that “players must not wear anything which is dangerous to other players”.
All players, team managers, technical officials and umpires are advised of this ban as of today Monday 7th March 2011.
It should be noted that this ban applies across all hockey, senior, junior, outdoor and indoor.