in p 4-5 rugby can kids play wearing safety sports glasses like davids from holland football player

Simon JonesCoach, England

John

I taught in schools for years and since rugby is a contact game I would never allow a child or anyone I coached to wear any sort of glasses! The danger is just too great that an eye injury could be caused.

These days contact lenses are worn by players, even in test rugby so hopefully this may be a solution for the children you coach.

I hope this helps

Simon

Andrew JepsonCoach, Italy

John; I fully agree with Simon; the Laws of the Game note that players must not wear rigid material of any sort; This can also apply to shin pads containing rigid plastic 'shields' on the front. I once saw a young player's leg opened wide and needing a considerable number of stitches when one of these 'soccer' shin pads split/cracked open to create a sharp point / blade that then took a lump out of the wearer's leg. The question also arises regards your 'duty of care' to the player, his team mates and the opposition. I would ask the question; "What should I do if a player in the other team takes the field wearing these sort of spectacles?" Sometimes it's as well that a coach carries a copy of the Laws of the Game and is able to refer to the relevant point rather than speculate or guess. Download the 'Laws of the Game' from the IRB website[link removed] and take particular note of the Laws relating to pre-match preparation. Bear in mind that we always hope to play as we train, so diligence should be applied equally in training as in games.