Yakking for Argyll

Teeth getting knocked out. Chins being split. Eyes lost. Fractured ankles being played on. Brains being dulled. Or were they dull already? I’m not sure. As an Englishman who played hockey and rugby I can’t believe the level of personal danger posed by playing shinty. Its unbelievable to me that safety kit is not used by the entire shinty-playing population as a matter of routine. The Camanachd Association only require that shinty players up to and including the age of 14 wear helmets. Evidently, if they’re older it doesn’t matter much. Taking exams, working for a living, supporting families aren’t that critical afterall. No, ensuring the right levels of manly recklessness are sustained is absolutely critical to the popularity of the game. There’s no doubt, this is a gladiatorial sport. Oh, but hold on, Gladiators wore armour and helmets didn’t they? Hmm, they’re not men, they’re wee girls in comparison to your West coast shinty player!

The argument is that not having the protection teaches the younger players to play safely.

Hmm.

What do we think of that?

Hockey was ruined during my career as a player by a level of rules and regs which made playing it as much an intellectual exercise as a physical one, and playing shinty came as a relief. The problem is that there are a significant number of players who play with unwarranted aggression and lack of sportsmanship. Its a dangerous game made more dangerous by the thugs. Given this tendency, which is more about the culture of the game than the rules, the Camanachd should make safety gear mandatory. It’ll make the thugs less dangerous, ordinary play a lot less intimidating for new players and assure many parents that their kids are not getting into a sport which may disfigure them for life.

Of course without new players the sport will die.

Oh, and by safety gear I mean the basics: box, shin-pads and mouth-guard. A helmet should be worn by all until the age of 21. The older players should set the example and wear all of it. Only then will the game’s future be assured, otherwise they’ll all end up braining each other and there’ll be no-one left to play, just a bunch of drooling idiots.