Due to the physical nature of football, there has always been concerns for the safety of its players. When thinking about my kids playing the game, as a parent, I want to ensure they are as safe as possible. Thankfully, more efforts and research have gone into the safety of the game. We have heard a lot about the effects of concussions over the last few years, which has led a charge to improve safety, especially for youth. Coaches are better trained on how to teach the proper fundamentals of the game and equipment is improving to help reduce injury. Let’s take a look at a youth football visor and how it can improve the youth football experience for our children.
What is a youth football visor or eye shield? Your first reaction when hearing the word visor, may be to think of a hat that golfers traditionally wear. A visor or eye shield in football refers to a see through protective shield that goes in between the face guard and crown of a football helmet.
What is the point of wearing a visor in football?
Protect the Eyes– Football is a physical game that consists of a lot of grabbing, hitting, and smashing one another. With the fast pace of the game, it can be easy to get hands too high, and take a finger to the eye. When wrestling around in a pile, hands are flying around, which can lead to safety concerns for unprotected eyes. Visors can also protect from debris like mud or dirt that can fly around, depending on weather and field conditions.
Improve Vision– There are visors available they can provide corrective vision for players that wear glasses or have vision impairments. These visors allow players to see properly without the need for wearing glasses. Doctors can provide medical clearance for these types of visors.
Sunlight– Polarized visors can work like sunglasses. Tinted visors allow for better vision when playing during a bright sunny day, which can help the player to see the action better.
Looks Cool– Kids love any type of accessories that help them to stand out or be unique. They also like to wear things that they see their favorite pro players wearing.
Competitive Advantage– Tinted visors can provide a competitive advantage, because it makes it hard to see the player’s eyes. The eyes tend to give away the direction the player will be moving. In a game determined by quick reactions, any little edge can help.
What visors are allowed in youth football?
Each level of football from youth Pop Warner to the NFL has varying sets of standards for what they allow during football games. Let’s take a look at the rules of each level.
NFL-The NFL will allow tinted visors, only after providing a doctor’s recommendation and clearance from the NFL office. Players may be ejected from the game if they refuse to comply with visor rules. All clear visors are allowed. Some teams have their own policies for allowing visors to be worn.
NCAA-The NCAA follows pretty much the same standards set by the NFHS. They disallow any visors with tint and visors must be made of material that is not flexible. The NCAA penalizes teams by having the player removed from the game, until wearing approved equipment, and team is charged with a timeout.
Youth– I’m going to lump High School and youth leagues together, because the majority of them follow the guidelines of NFHS. Some leagues may have some exceptions, so it is important to double check the rules of the league or state, but for the most part, following the guidelines of the NFHS is going to cover your child. The NFHS allows the use of visors for all youth football participants, but doesn’t allow for tinted visors, the visors must be clear. NFHS require that it is made from a material like polycarbonate, which is not flexible, and is more rigid and molded.
Why are tinted visors illegal in youth football?
Even though we have discussed benefits of both clear and tinted visors, tinted visors are not allowed in youth football regardless of the circumstances. We discussed how not seeing someone’s eyes can be a competitive advantage for a tinted visor, but not seeing someone’s eyes from a safety standpoint is a major concern. One way to determine concussion symptoms is to examine the eyes. If the pupils are larger than normal or each pupil is a different size it can indicate a concussion. With a tinted visor, even by shining a light, you wouldn’t be able to see the pupils. You would never want to just remove a helmet, if a player has a possible head injury, because it could be neck related, and cause further damage.
How do you keep your visor clean?
We’ve all seen how the bathroom mirrors fog up after a warm shower or car windows can fog up during certain temps, visors can have similar effects. When a player is sweating and breathing heavy it can cause the visor to fog up. Here are some tips to ensure your child’s visor will stay clear during play.
- Purchase an anti-fogging spray that is designed for visors or similar products.
- Use a tissue or soft towel to dry after spraying the visor shield, avoid any rough cloths.
- Make sure the visor dry’s before use.
- Try using a breathable mouth guard.
Under Armour Youth Visor ($36.90)
Under Armour is one of the premier athletic apparel brands out there. It sports credibility with kids, so kids will like rocking the Under Armour logo. It’s defiantly one to check out. Here is what I like about this visor:
- Universal design that fits most helmet types
- Approved for youth football leagues
- Clear and made with lightweight polycarbonate material
EliteTek Football & LAX Lacrosse Eye-shield Visor (29.99)
This one doesn’t come with the name recognition, but it is a great option for the price. I like that this visor has the anti-fog option, which makes for easier cleaning. I’d definitely recommend this option and here is what I like about this visor:
- Anti-Fog and Scratch resistant
- Reduces glare
- Universal fit to easily connect to most helmet types
- Approved for all youth leagues
- Clear, polycarbonate material
Nike Gridiron Youth Football Eyeshield (from$48.99)
Nike is the leader in youth sports apparel and one of the most recognizable brands with kids. Nike tends to make some of the best products. Here is what I like about this visor:
- Assorted decals
- Scratch resistant, clear, polycarbonate
- Shatter proof
How do I connect the visor to the helmet?
Installing the visor to the helmet is a relatively simple process which shouldn’t take more than a few minutes. The visor typically comes with a couple of clips that require a Phillips screwdriver to secure it to the helmet. You would loosen the two screws at the crown or forehead area of the helmet. After that you just slide the visor under the mask, secure the base of the visor by screwing the clips to the face mask, then re-secure the top screw. Ensure that you position the visor so it is straight. In no time at all, your visor will be secure to the helmet.
In conclusion, when it comes to optimizing my child’s safety, as a parent, I’m going to provide everything that I can for my child. Adding a football visor is a simple low cost item that can help prevent eye injuries while playing football.
Please comment below anything you enjoyed about this article or any product that worked well for you.
