Quote:
Originally Posted by Tan  The rule stating that we have to wear a specific type of external mouth gaurd; that is not designed for our sport and that people have lost teeth wearing should definitely be changed! |
Several issues here:
1) none of the safety equipment we use is 'designed' for our sport - hand, ears, mouth/teeth protection.
2) no one in US has lost tooth/teeth wearing the external guard we use. There are very few safety devices in use - water polo caps, polo cap ear guards, wrestling headgear for ears; hand protection varies greatly; internal guards are made by couple of companies (boil and bite) or can be custom made but VERY expensive in US ($500). Some players find internal guards interfer with breathing and snorkel, some do not.
US adapted the street hockey guard for underwater hockey - it is a 'hockey' mouthguard. I've seen some homemade items as there aren't any professional external guards out there (except the street hockey ones) that can be adapted AND do not pose a danger to other players. I am not personally opposed to other types, difficulty is reliability and validity. I would suggest anyone interested, develop and trial a guard or two (again double criteria - protect mouth/teeth and not dangerous to others), and then bring data to the world.
3) any rule can be changed at a rules meeting or even between meetings; there will be a rules meeting in less than 6 months. I just requested changes ....... perhaps your country would like to make a proposal????????????