Kids gumshields and liability

digzy

I’m involved with a kids underage sports team. All msgs sent out ask the kids to wear gumshields. Only half wear them.
Just wondering where liability would lie if disaster struck and someone’s teeth were damaged.
Is it the club, the coaches personally ( for not checking) or up to the kids parent/guardian?

Personally I’d implement a ‘no gumshield, no game’ if I was calling the shots! We were never instructed by the club on the matter.

Stovepipe

In the rugby club my girls were involved in,it was strictly no gumshield, no game. Make sure to tell the parents that. They'll get pissed off if little Johnny isnt allowed to play and they've wasted a round trip, for want of a little piece of plastic that should be kept in the gear bag. You'll only make that mistake once.

hullaballoo

Gum shields don't prevent damage to teeth. They are to mitigate against concussion by absorbing an amount of shock from a knock to the head.

If you allow children to play sports with inadequate or missing safety equipment, there is a prospect of being successfully pursued in the case of injuries.

Concussion is quite a serious injury and is common in many contact sports, gum shields notwithstanding.

Samuel T. Cogley

Would your insurance have a clause on this?

garhjw

Shouldn’t be allowed to play without a gumshield, preferably dental if it can be affordable. It is irresponsible to allow kids to participate without

punisher5112

Has a waiver been signed off on with all the rules, if not use that to get points across, use insurance as everywhere else is as the excuse to implement....

BrianBoru00

hullaballoo wrote: »

Gum shields don't prevent damage to teeth. They are to mitigate against concussion by absorbing an amount of shock from a knock to the head.

If you allow children to play sports with inadequate or missing safety equipment, there is a prospect of being successfully pursued in the case of injuries.

Concussion is quite a serious injury and is common in many contact sports, gum shields notwithstanding.

Sweet Jesus.

Gum shields are to protect the teeth, mouth and jaw.
They are **** all good in preventing concussion given that they only protect about 5% of the surface area of the head.

Seriously. Did you make it up for ****s and giggles or are you drinking because that is a ridiculous comment to come up with

theoneeyedman

digzy wrote: »

I’m involved with a kids underage sports team. All msgs sent out ask the kids to wear gumshields. Only half wear them.
Just wondering where liability would lie if disaster struck and someone’s teeth were damaged.
Is it the club, the coaches personally ( for not checking) or up to the kids parent/guardian?

Personally I’d implement a ‘no gumshield, no game’ if I was calling the shots! We were never instructed by the club on the matter.

GAA rules for both boys and girls state no gumshield no game,adults too now I believe. No card should mean a yellow card from the referee. AFAIK LGFA insurance will not cover dental damage if they establish a gumshield wasn't been worn.

Have parent /guardian sign off on this as part of registration, and enforce the rule for training. If nothing else, a player can't expect to play with a mouth guard if they don't use it in training.

Dravokivich

hullaballoo wrote: »

Gum shields don't prevent damage to teeth. They are to mitigate against concussion by absorbing an amount of shock from a knock to the head.

If you allow children to play sports with inadequate or missing safety equipment, there is a prospect of being successfully pursued in the case of injuries.

Concussion is quite a serious injury and is common in many contact sports, gum shields notwithstanding.

How would it affect concussion?

Below search refers specifically to teeth, jaws and neck.

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+does+a+gum+shield+do&oq=what+does+a+gumshield&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l3.7695j0j7&client=ms-android-samsung-gs-rev1&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

digzy

hullaballoo wrote: »

Gum shields don't prevent damage to teeth..

As a dentist with almost 20 years experience I’d respectfully disagree with you in that one!

digzy

Just to explain. I’m not the head coach. I just help out.

I’m not interested in discussing what I already know from a dental aspect,

My query relates to where liability lies in respect of an accident where there’s a failure to wear a gumshield

Pinch Flat

I coach under 13 Boys in GAA (Hurling and football). Strict rule is no gum shield, no game (or training for that matter). We've been told it's an insurance requirement for the club, and that not having a gum shield voids the member's insurance cover if they're injured. It wouldn't surprise me if a parent pursued me personally for negligence if for some reason their son's teeth were damaged and I hadn't checked.

punisher5112

digzy wrote: »

Just to explain. I’m not the head coach. I just help out.

I’m not interested in discussing what I already know from a dental aspect,

My query relates to where liability lies in respect of an accident where there’s a failure to wear a gumshield

To be honest, the way compo culture is here no matter who is to blame whomever has insurance will be the one paying out....

If one can claim for falling into an open grave in a grave yard and there for the purpose of a funeral and burial then honestly nobody need care where they go or what they do as they will be awarded for pure stupidity.....

The grave was obviously open so they could lay the person to rest so any normal person would keep a safe distance.

harr

Was at a minor game today and the ref warned a couple of players to take gum shields out of the socks .. some didn’t listen and he wasn’t long getting out the cards .. first time I seen it happen.
I know the ref had a word with both managers at half time telling them to have a word with players.

jrosen

It needs to be enforced because one way or another we all pay for the insurance pay outs. No equip no play as far as out club is concerned. I have seen the kids pop their shield in their socks. Sometimes they get away with it others they dont.

Heres Johnny

hullaballoo wrote: »

Gum shields don't prevent damage to teeth. They are to mitigate against concussion by absorbing an amount of shock from a knock to the head.

If you allow children to play sports with inadequate or missing safety equipment, there is a prospect of being successfully pursued in the case of injuries.

Concussion is quite a serious injury and is common in many contact sports, gum shields notwithstanding.

Stop making things up

park500

digzy wrote: »

I’m involved with a kids underage sports team

What sport and what age are the kids?

Gum-shields not compulsory for all sports

hullaballoo

hullaballoo wrote: »

Gum shields don't prevent damage to teeth. They are to mitigate against concussion by absorbing an amount of shock from a knock to the head.

If you allow children to play sports with inadequate or missing safety equipment, there is a prospect of being successfully pursued in the case of injuries.

Concussion is quite a serious injury and is common in many contact sports, gum shields notwithstanding.

"One of the most commonly held myths in sports medicine is the premise that wearing a mouthguard will prevent concussion. The origins of this contention are obscure, but an evidence based review of the scientific support for this concept has not been previously published."

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/35/2/81

hullaballoo

As usual, not a measured head in sight. :rolleyes:

Gum shields primarily protect teeth, gums etc., I had that wrong. But they (proper ones at least) also protect against concussion: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501101133.htm

Try not to hurt yourselves climbing back up my throat.

digzy

Pinch Flat wrote: »

I coach under 13 Boys in GAA (Hurling and football). Strict rule is no gum shield, no game (or training for that matter). We've been told it's an insurance requirement for the club, and that not having a gum shield voids the member's insurance cover if they're injured. It wouldn't surprise me if a parent pursued me personally for negligence if for some reason their son's teeth were damaged and I hadn't checked.

That’s my fear! Given the world we live in, despite the fact parents are reminded to give the kids gumshields, the head coaches don’t enforce it.
Personally, I’m happy to help out, but don’t really fancy facing a compo case should it arise

amadangomor

hullaballoo wrote: »

As usual, not a measured head in sight. :rolleyes:

Gum shields primarily protect teeth, gums etc., I had that wrong. But they (proper ones at least) also protect against concussion: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501101133.htm

Try not to hurt yourselves climbing back up my throat.

They are specialist ones. You've tried to find an exception to the rule to back up your bogus point. You could have just slunk away but you doubled down on your fairytale:D

Darc19

On building sites there's a great notice

No Hat
No Boots
No Job.

BrianBoru00

hullaballoo wrote: »

As usual, not a measured head in sight. :rolleyes:

Gum shields primarily protect teeth, gums etc., I had that wrong. But they (proper ones at least) also protect against concussion: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501101133.htm

Try not to hurt yourselves climbing back up my throat.

412 american football players in 1 single study. :rolleyes:

LMGTFY....

https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/35/2/81
https://www.verywellhealth.com/wearing-a-mouthguard-and-concussions-1059300
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1478774/pdf/brjsmed00031-0024.pdf

They do not protect against concussion. There is no depth of research behind your statement.

It's a serious issue trying to change an entire culture but thankfully things are changing. This generation is the first to wear helmets with faceguards in hurling. We are now getting to Minor level in Gaelic Football (And hurling) where gumshields are compulsory.
But fellas like yourselves - so far up your own posterior to admit you're int he wrong are doing your damdest to spread "fake news".

Grow up

Dravokivich

hullaballoo wrote: »

As usual, not a measured head in sight. :rolleyes:

Gum shields primarily protect teeth, gums etc., I had that wrong. But they (proper ones at least) also protect against concussion: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501101133.htm

Try not to hurt yourselves climbing back up my throat.

Theres only 1 way to protect against concussion and that's to stop contact sports.

No gear worn by an individual will affect the potential of it.

afatbollix

digzy wrote: »

I’m involved with a kids underage sports team. All msgs sent out ask the kids to wear gumshields. Only half wear them.
Just wondering where liability would lie if disaster struck and someone’s teeth were damaged.
Is it the club, the coaches personally ( for not checking) or up to the kids parent/guardian?

Personally I’d implement a ‘no gumshield, no game’ if I was calling the shots! We were never instructed by the club on the matter.

You should ask the national association on what to do. They will have safe guarding documents all written out for just this kind of situation. Depending on what it is they may also be providing your insurance so will know what to do.

Maybe ask them if they do a quick introduction to coaching course that you could attend. Ive done a rugby and a motorsport one and they were both good in telling rules and what we should and shouldn't do in this day and age. It's also a perfect place to ask these type of questions.

digzy

afatbollix wrote: »

You should ask the national association on what to do. They will have safe guarding documents all written out for just this kind of situation. Depending on what it is they may also be providing your insurance so will know what to do.

Maybe ask them if they do a quick introduction to coaching course that you could attend. Ive done a rugby and a motorsport one and they were both good in telling rules and what we should and shouldn't do in this day and age. It's also a perfect place to ask these type of questions.

As I said, I just help out. I’m not one of the coaches. Nor do I have any interest in taking on that responsibility. I don’t really come across as being the ‘typical dentist’ on about this stuff, but even from the kids own perspective you’d hate to see them get a traumatic dental injury which can be devastating

hullaballoo

hullaballoo wrote: »

As usual, not a measured head in sight. :rolleyes:

Gum shields primarily protect teeth, gums etc., I had that wrong. But they (proper ones at least) also protect against concussion: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140501101133.htm

Try not to hurt yourselves climbing back up my throat.

Rubbish. What you posted was rubbish, and unsafe rubbish too.

BattleCorp

To answer your question, you have a duty of care to the kids under your control. As a helper, you would have some role to play albeit not the main role.

To cover yourself, I would insist on the kids wearing their gear. If they refused, I wouldn't let them play. If the club over-rule you on that point, it might be time to withdraw your voluntary service to the club.

Dav010

ecoli3136 wrote: »

Rubbish. What you posted was rubbish, and unsafe rubbish too.

Actually the post you quoted is not entirely wrong, nor indeed is it “unsafe rubbish”, as you emphatically state. While hullabaloo was incorrect to state that the primary benefit of gumshields is not protection of teeth, he/she was not incorrect to state that they may play a part in protecting against concussion. Some research was done on the benefit of sportsgaurds helping to absorb the impact of upward trauma from below the head. Im trying to find the research but haven’t located it yet, it’s a few years since it was sent to me.

Op, I’m not sure what sport you participate in, but the GAA rules on gumshields are below. Ultimately, responsibility lies with the player/their guardian.

https://learning.gaa.ie/sites/default/files/GAA-Mouthguard-Information 2016.pdf