Helmets: Req'd for skaters under 18?

[JOHIO2]

Some Canadian skaters and parents are surprised by new rules that would require figure skaters under age 18 to wear helmets. See details:Helmets

So, what do you think? Should helmets be required for young figure skaters?

I think it is a good idea. Hockey skaters wear helmets. Of course they also learn to skate fast into each other and the boards. While most youngsters can fall without head injuries, some of us have never been that coordinated. I would like to see kids protected from the worst head injuries. Of course I am biased. Not only am I uncoordinated, I am also a closed head injury survivor.

Do you think I am over-reacting? I know that while I tried to make my own children wear helmets while biking and skating, I am realistic enough to know that they didn't want to (not cool) and mostly didn't wear them.

 

[Piel]

I would rather err on the side of safety and say yes. Would they be a problem during competitions?

 

[BronzeisGolden]

It would exempt figure skaters "beyond the introductory and basic levels," a report on the helmet issue says.

It sounds like this is more for the general public, and that I can understand. You get a rink packed full of spastic kids (and some adults) that have no skating experience and it can be a dangerous thing. I would probably object to it if it called for experienced figure skaters to wear them. That wouldn't make much sense. My mother has this terrible memory from her childhood. She was very small and was skating at a rink in Chicago. She fell and some crazy kid ran over her fingers!

 

[sk8er1964]

In all of my years in skating, I can only recall hitting my head a couple of times - with no serious consequences. Kind of like when you hit your head on a cupboard. Not to say that serious injury can't and doesn't happen more often to others, but that's my experience.

I would think that rotation would be very difficult with a helmet on.

 

[JOHIO2]

Bronze, a helmet sure wouldn't prevent that! Hope she wasn't hurt too badly, but even a bruise and a scare would be awful . Wonder if gloves would be required there?

sk8er, I have no idea how it would work for spins or jumps. Every change of position or entry into either makes them harder to execute. So props and helmets must have some effect.

I know that every couple of years one of the ABC crew does a piece on helmets or new skates. I suspect you would need a special helmet and not a cheapie bike helmet if you wanted to even attempt jumps and spins.

and they always bring up one of the worst accidents that might have been lessened by a helmet: Paul Binnebose. He had a severe head injury and has never really recovered. Granted that his accident is one unique to pairs. In trying to break his partner's fall from a lift, he apparently couldn't break his own fall. Even Tanith Belbin managed a concussion and had to wear a helmet coming back to dancing with Ben Agosto.

I have no real idea how feasible a skating helmet would be. Do you think any skaters would want to try one? Should it only be required for beginners? Or on new skills? If you require one of a pairs or dance team, do you require the other partner to wear one?

 

[Ladskater]

I have seen some of the younger "ankle biters" wearing helmets. I can see it for the younger set, especially when they are first learning. I started figure skating at the age of twelve and we did not wear any kind of equipment. It's hard to say. One does have to learn good balance in figure skating. Eventually, even falling does not seem such a big deal. I guess parents are overly cautious these days.

 

[backspin]

If this rule is for the general public & the beginners, I applaude it. My rink requires helmets for the tots classes, since they go over backwards multiple times on any given session. I think until one has learned a bit & has their feet under them & some sense of balance & movement a helmet is a very practical & smart precaution.

I had an adult student go down in my class just this week--to the hospital with a cuncussion! A helmet would have prevented that. I have another adult student who wears a heavy knitted stocking cap for the sole purpose of having some padding if she goes over backwards, which I also think is smart. Even a bun in your hair can protect you--one saved me once! So in my opinion, for the older students, there may be other options than a full helmet, which will still offer some protection.

I'd also say that the more advanced skaters, & certainly the figure skaters, can make that choice themselves. Probably someone would have to invent a new lightweight perfectly balanced helmet to make all the jumps & spins possible. I'd dare to guess that most skating head injuries are sustained by beginners or people out for a public session who aren't real skaters.

 

[Johar]

I would say "yes" for beginner skaters. A few years ago a man ice skating backwards tripped and fell backwards, and died of a head injury right there on the ice.