Kemp: MIAA changes goggles rule for 2023 field hockey. Is it the right choice?

As of this season, it is no longer a requirement to wear protective face coverings, or goggles, in the sport of field hockey, per the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

In the MIAA Rule Change Proposals for 2023-2025 Handbook, it states, “Field hockey is a sport where the ball is often on the ground. Goggles impair inferior visions, which cause students to play with their head down, thereby increasing risk of cervical injury.”

The proposal rationale also explains that there are not certified goggles that are available to all players, “notably those who wear glasses,” due to the shape and fit of the goggles being too close to the face to fit glasses underneath.

Traditionally at collegiate and professional levels, players do not wear any face protection except during a penalty corner. For a corner, the defensive players will put on a facemask that covers the entire face and take it off after the completion of the corner play.

The MIAA rationale explains that when players have the goggles on, they are unable to have the full facial protection that the mask offers. The rationale uses this as another reason to get rid of the goggle rule, giving athletes the chance to have proper protection for corners, which is arguably the major, and perhaps only, instance that one would want to have something to cover their face.

“I’m so glad to see the goggles go,” Quabbin coach Shelly Zalneraitis. “Honestly I was never a big fan of goggles. I have seen no eye injuries and I’ve been coaching for 35 years … I have seen a head bump here and there so the fact that we had to wear those goggles as long as we did, I’m glad to see them gone.”

Zalneraitis also said that her team has chosen to wear goggles for corners rather than the corner masks. Since they are a full facemask, it is difficult to see out of, so Quabbin players opt for the goggles that they are at least used to from previously wearing them during the game.

Reporter now, field hockey player then

I can speak from experience here. As a former high school and college field hockey player, I took notice that the MIAA ruled to change this requirement. In college and higher levels, it makes sense that there is no mask requirement. The level of skill is much higher, and the game is played exclusively on turf surfaces, therefore reducing the risk of the ball popping up or bouncing unexpectedly.

However, many schools in Massachusetts still play on grass fields. My experience in high school field hockey was on grass fields with the occasional away game that was on another school’s turf. Field hockey on grass is truly a completely different game and it is difficult to predict where the ball may go due to the condition of a field.

At the high school level, there is also a wide array of skill. At my high school, for example, we had many athletes who had never played field hockey before they reached high school, leaving room for more unexpected play due to inexperience.

A player who is newer to the sport may hit the ball less consistently, leading to the ball coming up too high. This, coupled with the bumps and dips of a grass field, can be dangerous. Goggles are a good way to protect against this, covering the eyes and nose from getting hit with a ball.

Once I began my collegiate career and got used to not wearing goggles, my visibility of the field improved drastically. I was also a member of the defensive corner unit and experienced wearing the full facemask for corners.

Other than during a corner, I never felt as though my face was vulnerable or in danger of being hit. Of course there are instances when a ball or stick comes up too high. However, with the skill of teammates and competitors at a high level, it was rare that my team and I experienced any issues or major injuries resulting from impact to the face or head.

A teammate of mine was hit in the face with a ball that popped during one practice, giving her a black eye, but that was the only time in my collegiate career that I saw something like that happen.

In high school, I feel as though I can recall many more times that the ball or someone’s stick hit a player’s face, further proving that the goggle requirement was worthwhile.

Positive reviews thus far

Other states in the New England area still have a goggle rule, but it will be interesting to see if they will follow suit with Massachusetts and begin to phase out the mandate.

About halfway into the season, I have heard only positive reactions from the erasure of the rule. Once a full season concludes with this rule and time goes on, my main thought is whether the MIAA will continue on with the lack of a rule or if schools will run into issues with it (injuries, complaints, etc.), forcing it back into place.

Thus far this season, I have observed Gardner area teams on which all players wear goggles, teams that have some players who opt to wear them, and teams that have all players choosing to not wear goggles.

The personal choice is something that is definitely positive for the rule change, first giving schools the option to make them required or not for their program, and finally leaving it up to the individual student-athlete to choose what makes them comfortable.

“I’m old school. I played in high school, I played in college and didn’t wear the goggles,” Oakmont coach Leanne Roy said. “For me, I feel like it's natural, I feel like it actually makes you pay attention more and keeps them on their toes. Most of our girls have wanted to take their goggles off … to me, I see it as a positive.”

Still not sold

Despite the power for schools and teams to choose what they want to do, I still see an issue with the lack of face protection in high school field hockey.

As a player, I’m sure I would have been thrilled to not have to wear goggles, because they can be uncomfortable and difficult to see out of, but with the reality of high school field hockey and both the lack of skill and inconsistent playing surfaces, I can be happy in retrospect that I was required to wear goggles. It allowed me to play without fear of being injured and gave me the opportunity to become more comfortable with the game before I went on to play collegiately without goggles.

Contact Cait Kemp at ckemp@gannett.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @caitlinkemp09. 

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Rule change on goggles from MIAA affects high school field hockey