Protective Devices, Regulations,
and the Law
Core Concepts in Athletic Training
and Therapy
Susan Kay Hillman
Objectives
• Explain the function of a voluntary standards
organization and describe how such an organization
might affect sport equipment.
• Explain the significance of the National Operating
Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment seal
on protective headgear and discuss ways in which that
seal would serve to protect the wearer.
• Identify the factors considered in determining legal
liability for an injury that occurred after alteration of
protective equipment.
• Discuss areas in which product liability might play a
role in athletics.
Standards for Equipment Design and
Reconditioning
Regulating Agencies
– International Organization for Standardization
– American National Standards Institute
– Consumer Products Safety Commission
– American Society for Testing and Materials
– National Operating Committee on Standards for
Athletic Equipment
– Other Regulatory Agencies
Reconditioning and Maintenance of
Athletic Headgear
Agencies for Development of Sport
Safety Rules
– Rules and Regulations for the Use of Protective
Equipment
– NCAA-Required and -Recommended Protective
Equipment
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Headgear
Face, Throat, and Mouth Protection
Protection of the Chest and Shoulders
Protection of the Lower Extremities
– Illegal or Restricted Equipment
– Fabricating Custom Protective Equipment
Legal Concerns About Equipment Use
in Sport
– Ignorance of the Law
– Ignoring the Law
– Failure to Act
– Failure to Warn
– Expense
Liability Negligence
Determination of Liability
Product and Manufacturer Liability
– Facility or Playing Surface Problems
– Sporting Equipment
– Improper Care or Modification of Manufactured
Products
– Manufacturer’s Liability
– Protecting Oneself From Legal Misfortune