Eye guards by Derek Lawther

Well, the latest Squash PEI web poll has just about run its course. The topic is “whether or not the wearing of eye guards should be manditory for all (read: not just juniors as our current eye guard policy states)) during sanctioned events”……ah yes….the age old debate.

I am not surprised that the vote was more or less split right down the middle judging by how many people I see wearing (or not) eye guards.

Question……if we require juniors to wear eye guards, why not adults? Is it really about the “right of passage into adulthood”….that we somehow become “old enough” to make decisions to put ourselves in harms way?…..hummm….sounds like the same argument which was unsessessfully use when seatbelt legislation was being brought in……but, unfortunately, successfully (in some jurisdictions) in the case of bicycle helmet laws.

So what…..you are only hurting yourself….right? I remember an incident in London Ontario about 13 years ago. Two very experienced players were playing a match. Neither one wore eye guards. One of the players was struck in the eye by a cross court drive from the back corner. His opponent…..the person who took that shot (by the way….it was not his fault!) …to this day has never again picked up a racquet. Only hurting yourself?……I think not!

I will leave you all with one final image……..and a reminder to even the experienced skilled player who think that they are immuned to such injuries….

Jonathon Power in the 2002 World Championships….forced to withdraw due to injury.

JP knocked out of World Open       December 16, 2002
after being struck in the eye by Palmer’s racquet

Jonathon Power started off this semi-final in great form, and quickly established a lead in the first game which Palmer was never going to recover. Palmer clawed his way back into contention though, and the match seemed to be developing into another classic encounter. Power took the first 15-13, but a series of lets at 14-13 set the pattern for the second game.

The second, and final game went point for point up to 10-all, with decision after decision demanded of the referee. The packed crowd was enthralled, with the squash, the drama, and the anticipation of one player taking control. Then, suddenly, at 10-10 the real drama began.

Palmer played a backhand drive, and Power was caught on the eye by Palmer’s racket on the follow-through. Power went dramatically to the floor, and was attended to on court. After inspection by a doctor and a delay of over an hour, it was determined that Power was unable to continue, and that Palmer would proceed to the final.

“This is the last way I would have wanted to reach a World Open final,” said a distraught Palmer, brought onto court to tell the crowd of the decision.

Gawain Briars, Chief Executive of the PSA, explained the process. “The doctor decided that Power was in shock and possibly suffering mild concussion and that any movement of the head could complicate things. He insisted Power should have hospital inspection before playing again.

“That brought two sets of rules into play. Under WSF Rules accidental injuries are allowed unlimited time to recover within the time schedule of the competition, which meant Power could have played the next day before the scheduled Saturday final. But PSA rules state that all matches must be at least 18 hours apart.

“I was prepared to bend the PSA rules a bit for the sake of the players and the tournament, but I had to leave David the option of refusing to play twice on one day, including a World Open Final.”

In the absence of agreement to play on Saturday the match was effectively conceded to Palmer. For Power it was the second successive World Open final where he has bowed out injured, losing out to Ahmed Barada in 1999.