Tinted eye shield with Doctor's note

[jodibuck]

I ran across this last week where a player had a tinted eye shield.  The head coach told me the player had a note from a doctor stating the player's eyes were sensitive to light.  I told the coach to refer this to the state association.  Has anyone else had this situation?

[NVFOA_Ump]

In Massachusetts this situation requires that the player wear protective and/or tinted eyeglasses.  There is no exception(s) granted for tinted eye shields.

[Fatso]

I Massachusetts this situation requires that the player wear protective and/or tinted eyeglasses.  There is no exception(s) granted for tinted eye shields.

Same here in LA.  He can wear tinted/prescription eyeglasses but not a tinted shield.

[GA Umpire]

I ran across this last week where a player had a tinted eye shield.  The head coach told me the player had a note from a doctor stating the player's eyes were sensitive to light.  I told the coach to refer this to the state association.  Has anyone else had this situation?

Yes.  We handled it the way you did.

The player removed the shield and played.

[GoodScout]

It's an epidemic here in Vermont.

It got so bad the state had to dictate that unless it issued a waiver allowing tinted eye shields, the player couldn't play.
So as a referee every week I get a list of which players are OK'd by the state to wear them. And when a coach tries to tell me he only has a doctor's note, I let him know the player can't play with it.

Don't let your kids be pass receivers. Apparently this dread disease that requires them to wear tinted shields seems to only afflict pass receivers.   

[KWH]

Never let the Rules Book get in the way of a great ball game!

CASEBOOK 1.5.3 SITUATION D

A DOCTORS NOTE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND ONLY A NOTE FROM THE STATE ASSOCIATION IS VALID

[BIG UMP]

Tennessee's final answer is NO.

[dammitbobby]

Never let the Rules Book get in the way of a great ball game!

CASEBOOK 1.5.3 SITUATION D

A DOCTORS NOTE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND ONLY A NOTE FROM THE STATE ASSOCIATION IS VALID

From the outside (non-NFHS) looking in, how does this work? The state association can override a doctor's note/prescription? What's the criteria? That seems like a can of worms that very much should not be opened, from a liability perspective (the state association deciding which doctor notes are valid and justifiable, and which are not).

[GoodScout]

For us, I think the state will take any doctor's note at face value. Have never heard of one being rejected. Which is why we have so many here.

As for a kid having a doctors note, but not playing because he's not gotten cleared by the state, that's not my problem nor my liability. If medically he can't play without a tinted visor, then the coach is responsible if he goes on the field without one and something happens. All I'm doing is saying he can't wear one on the field. If he has to sit out, he sits out until the coach can get his paperwork right with the state.

[Ralph Damren]

The need for this rule is to allow medical personal to view the player eyes without removing his helmet which could aggervate a potential neck or spine injury. It is felt that tinted glasses could be removed without removing the helmet and is safe.

[GoodScout]

Agree. It's a good rule.
I just find it amusing that the only players that ever need tinted shields are the pass receivers who don't want defenders seeing where they're looking.