HECC Statement on COVID-19 Spit Guards

HECC has become aware of several different products that have been developed and are on the market that are presented as “spit guards” or devices that claim to reduce the transmission of COVID and other air borne illness (defined here and hereinafter referred to as “Spit Guards”). These Spit Guards are available on the market in different forms, including stick on type devices that are applied to the inside or outside of the helmet, as well as other products that have not yet reached the marketplace.

At this time HECC has not been presented with enough research to determine the effectiveness of any of these products in preventing the spread of air borne illnesses. In the light of the above, HECC offers the guidance below to players, parents, coaches and officials on the use of those Spit Guards.

• HECC has determined that any modification to the helmet will void the helmet’s certification. This would include any Spit Guard that is applied to the helmet, or any Spit Guard that replaces the components of the approved helmet.
• A helmet modified with any Spit Guard must be verified by HECC with that modification. It is HECC’s position that:
  • The original helmet manufacturer must approve the use of the Spit Guard with its product, AND
  • The modified product must be verified by the HECC validator to ensure that it still meets the applicable test standard.

Without meeting these two requirements the HECC Certification is voided by the addition of the Spit Guard.

Verified Products (including any tested combination of a helmet and Spit Guard) will be posted on the HECC web site, HECC.org.

PLEASE NOTE: Certification of helmets modified with Spit Guard in no way indicates an endorsement by HECC of any particular Spit Guard or a recommendation as to its effectiveness or benefit to the young athlete.