The Camanachd Association has agreed that all players aged under 21 must wear fully compliant helmets from next season.
This raises the limit from under-17 and will cover a significant number of Premiership and National Division players.
President Steven Mackenzie said: “We’re pleased that over 75 per cent of clubs supported this proposal.
“The Association warmly welcomes this change as we enhance the health and safety of our young players.”
The indications are that helmet-wearing, bitterly opposed by many for some years, is becoming much less controversial.
Small sport with lot of tradition, but also awful high proportion head/facial injuries.
Difference could be made by extending 2013 U17 helmet rule to whole game.
Deferring to a decade from now seems more like mitigating risk committee criticism than player safety#JustDoIt https://t.co/hYzu9wwsPn
— Dr Willie Stewart (@WillStewNeuro) November 28, 2020
Two years ago, when the rule was extended to under-17s, the Association was criticised by Professor Willie Stewart, an expert on concussion in sport, for not extending it to all players, given the ratio of head and facial injuries in shinty.
The Association responded that it was a member-led body and could only progress via consent.
Players can sign an annual waiver opting out of wearing a helmet.
Lochaber boss to stay on
Meanwhile, former Scotland shinty-hurling manager Ally Ferguson is prepared to carry on as Lochaber manager in what will be a major relief to the National Division club.
The team, relegated from the Premiership in 2019, has had a series of managers in recent years.
Danny Delaney took over from his father Michael for the start of this season but stepped down in disillusion at lack of commitment from some players.
Ferguson stepped into the breach in his second stint in charge of the Red and Whites.
He intended just to help out until the end of the season but Ferguson is now ready to offer the club some much-needed continuity as they try to regain their top flight spot.
“I’ve taken time to think things over and the outcome is that I intend to carry on,” Ferguson said.
“I’ve enjoyed being back in the game and I feel there is something to build on at Lochaber.”
Ferguson, who is poised to be reappointed at the club annual meeting on Friday, had several seasons as assistant and then manager at international level.
Lochaber finished fourth in this season’s National Division, 11 and 10 points respectively behind promoted duo Skye and Beauly.
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