Polo Helmet

Safety

It has been the opinion of the Safety Committee of the USPA that all polo players should wear a helmet with a protective face mask in addition to goggles.

Protection

Research has shown that head injuries are the most common equine sport injury. The structure of a polo helmet should provide a cushioned foam lining to absorb a shock to the head resulting from hitting the ground or from a ball or mallet, thus preventing trauma to the head.

Proper Fit

When purchasing a new helmet it's best to try it on for proper fit. However, if you are buying a helmet from a catalog or over the Internet, just order your normal hat size. If you don't know your hat size you can measure the circumference of your head about 1/2 inch above your eyebrows.

Face Mask

A face mask is a piece of protective gear constructed so that it will not come apart, dislodge from the helmet, or cause additional injury to the face. The USPA recommends wearing a helmet with an attached face mask that will protect a player from a hit to the mask at 100 mph, the average speed of a well-hit ball by a high-goal player.

Many players complain that they cannot see through the face mask or that the face mask may cause a neck injury. According to the USPA, there is currently no information available to support this theory.

Goggles

The ASTM has standards for athletic eyewear that manufacturers may voluntarily follow. ASTM designation F803 is a standard specification for eye protectors for use by players of racket sports.

These eye protectors are required to withstand the impact of various racquetballs traveling 90 mph. The frames are required to survive the force of a racket at a velocity of 25 mph.

Standards

The USPA has determined that a polo helmet should be light in weight, but must also have a durable or hard shell to structurally support a face mask which will remain intact if a horse rolls over it.

According to the USPA, a polo helmet that will pass both the NOCSAE and the ASTM standards is recommended.

Standard Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Polo Helmets. ND050-04am04

Laboratory Procedural Guide for Certifying Newly Manufactured Polo Helmets. ND051-03m03

Standard Performance Specification for Helmet Mounted Polo Eye Protection. ND055-03m05

Laboratory Procedural Guide for Certifying Newly Manufactured Eye Protectors for Polo Headgear. ND056-03m03