Advanced Impact Testing of Field Hockey Headgear

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Hockey is a sport played globally by those of all ages. Simplified, 22 players move in a chaotic multi- directional nature with weapon-like sticks that they use to propel a hard ball around a pitch. The ball can reach speeds in excess of 100mph and can therefore be considered as a dangerous projectile. As a result of the nature of the game, the mechanisms of play and the evolution of the sport, the likelihood of head injuries or scenarios that increase the risk of severe head injury have become more prevalent.Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) can be used to mitigate some of these risks, however the standards associated with field hockey headgear are either outdated in the case of goalkeeper helmets or non-existent in the case of outfield players penalty corner face masks. The greater awareness of the detrimental implications that can result from a head injury on both the short-term and long-term health of an individual are at the forefront of sports medicine at the moment.Recent developments in experimental equipment and techniques allow for in play impacts to be better replicated in the laboratory setting and the true nature of the magnitude of impact to be better recorded. These advances have yet to be applied within hockey testing, or to women or children.This research is centred on player safety and ensuring all players, no matter what demographic they sit in, are equally protected when they step on the pitch.With recent advances on human surrogates and experimental set ups, there are new methods to improve and better understand head injury scenarios. These have been used in parallel sports, such as in cricket and baseball, but this would be the first introduction in hockey. This research would also increase the data available for female athletes, which could be used across all sports.