The decision of the Spanish Skating Federation to impose the use of a certain helmet on children in the lower categories, called to provide safety to minors, is being a headache for adults. The parents complain that the protection designated by the national body is not approved, it is not safe and, furthermore, it is expensive, and they blame the Asturian federation for not allowing other options.
This year, as a novelty in the junior and infant categories, the Asturian Federation requires children to wear a helmet, something that until now was optional. So far, everyone agrees. The problem is the type of helmet.
“Until now there were children who used ice hockey helmets, which were solid and protected them from balls,” he explains. Juanjo Fernandez, the person who gives voice to the complaints of the affected families. According to him, the protections of the new helmet are very similar to those of rugby, saving the screen. “I don’t think it can help much. The new helmet does not have the CE certificate. The Federation has relied on a European directive that is repealed,” he explains with concern.
The controversial helmet consists of two parts: the bumper and the screen. Before they were sold as a set, but this new version distributes them separately. “We parents have to put it together. I don’t want to be badly thought, but I think this can serve as an excuse so that, if one day something happens, those responsible wash their hands. They argue that the fault is that the pieces were poorly assembled and free,” says Fernández, who abounds in his complaints. “We are in contact with other federations and they have spoken to us very badly about this helmet, that its safety is zero,” he warns. Parents have no choice. Either they buy this helmet or their kids can’t compete. And the price is added to the obligation to use it. “It costs around 130 euros and if the screen breaks, the repair is around 90 euros. The other cost 70 euros and the repairs were more affordable. They do not give the option to buy it elsewhere, so there can be no competition to reduce prices. It’s a monopoly,” he says.
His complaints are addressed to the Asturian federation, which, in his words, has the power to adapt the rules: “Each federation can set its own rules. The use of this helmet was not approved by the board, it is something that comes directly from the Federation Spanish. But, for example, here boys and girls play together up to the junior category, something that according to the Spanish regulations cannot be done. For some things the rules are broken and for others not.”
The president of the Skating Federation of the Principality, Jose Antonio Sanz Polanco, walks out. “One thing is sports regulations and others safety,” she defends herself. As he explains, the decision to use the helmet is not the responsibility of the Asturian Federation: “we accept what they say from the Spanish Federation. Imagine that something happens. Any parent could go against the Federation for not playing with the approved helmet” , explains the president, who admits that if they decide it in Asturias they could play without a helmet, “but if an accident occurs we could be sued.”
The president explains that the choice of the type of helmet is something that does not fall within his mandates, and that he wants to prioritize safety: “We want the children in these categories to play safely. Even if a child goes on to play with the youth, he continues being obliged to take the case”.
