Exactly this. My vision is arguably marginally worse with contacts than with glasses, particularly under floodlights or if I've had to wear them all day ahead of a match - but there's not a chance I'd turn up to a match and try to defend wearing glasses.
For me its a matter of looking professional. I am aware not everybody is in it to look professional or cares.
That's amazingly condescending and naive. Looking professional is in the eye of the beholder. Being able to see well is simply more important that what some people think looks professional. As I said above, I think it is better for refs who need vision assistance to wear contacts if they can. But I'd hardly say that we should boot refs out when that is not a practical option. And at lower levels, I think it is really, really silly to waste any time worrying about. (Just about as dumb as how excited some folks in the US got about it looking unprofessional when the trio did not all have the same sleeve length. That silliness faded away here when those folks realized the frequency that different sleeve lengths are worn by refs at the top levels--although there are still a few dinosaurs who get excited about it at lower levels.)
I don’t think we should boot refs out and again have stated that it looks unprofessional to me. Can’t and won’t speak for anyone else.
That completely flies in the face of how we operate as a society in general these days.
I have thought about this, Kes, and my thoughts are:That's already been quoted above Chas but also brings me back to the real crux of the matter which, before we even look at the overall safety aspect is this:
The guidance given above contains this sentence - Children and Grassroots Football: Whilst The FA recommends Polycarbonate lenses we recognise this may be an issue for children playing in grassroots football.
What does that even mean? Does it mean that even with Polycarbonate lenses there's still a safety issue for kids? Or does it mean that acquiring them instead of normal glasses might be an issue for them? Far too ambiguous (in my opinion anyway).
Irrespective of the above, the whole concern for me as a referee is the safety aspect of players (whether kids or not) wearing normal prescription glasses for football, so it seems bizarre that in today's climate, especially with virtually everything we do in life being subject to some form of risk assessment or H & S box-ticking exercise, that the advice given above seems to say "Okay, it's an obvious safety risk for adults and kids, but where kids are concerned, let's be more lenient/tolerant!!".
It's time the FA either gave complete unambiguous direction (not guidance) on this subject even if it means having it written into Laws 4 and 5 respectively. Would you not agree?
You are speaking for us though. I'm Type 1 diabetic and so can't wear contacts (the eye shape changes according to the levels of glucose in capillaries). I've worn glasses since I first qualified in 1998. The worst that's ever happened is the odd spectator having a good laugh at my expense with the great witticism about needing windscreen wipers.
Okay, I can buy into that (sort of). Poverty stricken countries don't have anywhere near the raft of H&S regulations or mindset that we operate with here anyway.
Next time Mr Elleray rings me I will tell him of your concernsOkay, I can buy into that (sort of). Poverty stricken countries don't have anywhere near the raft of H&S regulations or mindset that we operate with here anyway.
Whatever the solution turns out to be, the integrity of the safety aspect to which the mention of not wearing "anything that is dangerous" is contained in Law 4 needs ratifying and upholding by clear direction from the FA as a whole where glasses/spectacles are concerned. I believe it needs to be blanket-issue and unambiguous. Using the words "encourage tolerance" is about as much help as a chocolate fireguard when it comes to safety and what is or isn't acceptable.
As a wise old sage well versed in such matters, I nominate you, our very own Chas to lobby the FA in a manner befitting and on behalf of us all at Refchat.
Of course their sight is equally valuable, but on a dirt pitch somewhere without as much care re H & S as we have, kids will clamour to play and whatever FIFA/IFAB say they will do so with/without spectacles.
I don’t agree that regular glasses (as long as they don’t have glass lenses, which are basically impossible for a kid to have in the US) are a “significant” risk. As I noted before, they are pretty universally accepted in youth soccer games in the US, especially at the youngest ages. I’ve never heard of a serious injury from it. I’m sure they have happened, but that doesn’t mean it rises to the level of signicant—these same kids are also playing on their own on the school grounds or at the park while wearing their glasses. (I do think the risk increases with age--bodies/heads are moving much faster, as is the ball.)
