The committees recognize that football student-athletes have used protective eye shields for many years, and although tinted shields may be fashionable, their use can be dangerous. A tinted shield can make it more difficult for the medical staff to evaluate and treat a football student-athlete who sustains a head, neck or facial injury.

In 1998, the Football Rules Committee enacted a rule requiring all protective shields to be clear. Some players and coaches expressed concern, however, that some athletes require the use of a tinted shield. Subsequently, the Football Rules Committee provided an exception to the rule that required the submission of a waiver form.

The athletic trainer or compliance coordinator for each school is responsible for making the request to the NCAA national office. The form must include documentation from an opthamologist and/or neurologist to support the student-athlete's need for a tinted shield. NCAA staff members and a physician member of the CSMAS review the applications.

This year, the form has been modified so that certain conditions require an opthamologist and/or neurologist evaluation, and the examination must be current. There are several conditions that may merit a clear shield, but do not require that the shield is tinted. Examples include athletes who have had previous eye trauma or decreased vision in one of their eyes. In such situations, it makes sense to protect the eye, but there is no valid indication for a tinted shield.

In addition, a significant number of athletes have difficulty with glare or bright light (photophobia). Student-athletes with this condition, as well as those conditions listed in Appendix B (pages 141-142) in the 2004 Football Rules book, are not eligible for tinted visors.

Application forms and instructions are available on NCAA Online (www.ncaa.org). The forms can be submitted by the athletic trainer or compliance coordinator. Forms submitted by student-athletes will not be accepted. The form must include signatures of the athletics director, athletic trainer and ophthalmologist and/or neurologist to be considered. The date of the examination by the ophthalmologist and/or neurologist must also be provided. If the student-athlete is not 18 years old, a parent or guardian signature also is required.

Simply submitting the application does not allow the student-athlete to wear the visor. The request must be approved and properly documented by the NCAA before use in competition. Forms must be submitted each year, and a repeat examination by the opthamologist and/or neurologist also is required. Forms must be received by Tuesday the week of the contest in order for processing to occur. Every effort is made to provide a timely response to the request.

For more information, contact Nicole Boles at the NCAA national office (nboles@
ncaa.org or 317/917-6145).