ECB DIRECTIVES 2004
Guidance on wearing of cricket helmets by young players

Following recommendations by the England & Wales Cricket Board, the Hampshire Cricket Board's policy is that:

	young players, up to their 18th birthday, must wear a helmet when batting and when standing up to the stumps when keeping wicket against a hard cricket ball in matches and in practice.
	a young player should not be allowed to bat or to stand up to the stumps when keeping wicket without a helmet against a hard ball. Coaches, teachers, managers and umpires should always ensure that a young player wears a helmet.
	players should regard a helmet with a faceguard as a normal item of protective equipment when batting against a hard ball, together with pads, gloves and, for boys, an abdominal protector (box).
	there is a British Standard (BS7928: 1998) for cricket helmets and it is in the best interests of players to ensure that their helmet conforms to this standard.
	this policy applies to young players in adult cricket as well as to all junior cricket played with a hard cricket ball. It applies to all Hampshire Cricket Board teams and competitions under the jurisdiction of the Board, including the Southern Electric Premier and Hampshire Cricket Leagues, and it is strongly recommended that helmets should similarly be worn for practice and in recreational "friendly" matches.
	young players who wear turbans or patkas on religious grounds may be exempted from the requirement to wear helmets provided written parental consent is obtained. Umpires (including teachers or coaches standing in representative, school or club matches) should accept the word of the official representing the team, school or club that parental consent has been obtained.