What happens if you wear glasses and have to do rugby?

[Neolara]

My ds has just started secondary and will be doing rugby in pe this term. He is very short sighted (-4 in both eyes) and is never without his glasses. His pe teacher has suggested he gets special sports goggles or contact lenses for rugby. But goggles seem to cost £100+ and it seems nuts to to start using contacts with all the associated costs and hassle for 2 hours a week for one term. So presumably he will just have to play without his glasses which will be totally pointless because he won't be able to see anything. Is this normal? Or would schools ever try and make alternative arrangements? Ds is actually quite coordinated and enjoys sports like tennis, swimming and running, so it's genuinely not about trying to get out of sport.

That seems expensive for sports googles. Prescription swimming goggles are nothing like that price anway.

You could ask to withdraw him from rugby, which means he would do two cycles of whatever the alternative is. My school will not let boys do rugby without goggles as they say it's Local Authority and RFU safety policy. I have to say that, having witnessed some Y8 tackles, I wouldn't fancy going into one wearing glasses.

Ask school for advice as I'm sure this won't be the first time it's come up.

www.prescription-swimming-goggles.co.uk/optiswim-adult.html

Have a look at these, will only set you back £17.50.

I'd sign him out of rugby. Tell the school you are refusing permission for him to play and demand he do another sport, which will be available, during his PE lessons when rugby is taking place.

Spectacles are not allowed for contact rugby , only goggles or contact lenses.

The guidance is here
www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/MyRugby/Education/01/32/50/38/SportsGogglesEyewear(RugbySafeEssentialGuide)May2017FINAL_Neutral.pdf

Thanks for your suggestions. I don't think rugby goggles are the same as swimming goggles. From a quick Google it seems like they have to be specially padded and strong so they don't damage the wearers or others on the pitch in a tackle.

Look at the guidance from Rugby Union I have just posted

He will be able to wear them for tennis and cricket etc too. They make a massive difference and are worth the investment

What are the associated hassle and costs with wearing contact lenses??? In my experience there are very little. A trip to the optician and a purchase of one month supply of dailies for around £15 which would last him ages if only wearing for rugby sessions. Also will come in handy for many other activities. Unusual to come across a glasses wearer that doesn’t turn to contacts every now and again unless they physically can’t wear them.

I had to pay over £400 for prescriptions swimming goggles as dd has a complex prescription. Worth every penny. I'd go for the sports glasses/goggles they'll last him for years even if he has a change to prescription they'll do for the length of time they are worn

Very sympathetic on the rugby and would suggest speaking to school and asking for him to be switched into another group just for that term/half term.

But, longer term I do think it's worth considering daily disposable contact lenses for sport more generally if he enjoys tennis etc. My dd is also very short sighted, and having daily disposables that she can wear for sports has made a big difference to her in terms of comfort and confidence.

It doesn't cost that much because she only wears them a couple of times a week - and also the optician said fine to go with the cheapest option because she never keeps them in all day, just puts them in before training.

Get some dailies! No hassle at all

Some people just don't get on with contact lenses, your DS can try if he wants to but shouldn't feel pressured.

I'd personally ask for him to be switched groups.

We had the same problem with our DS 32 years ago when he was 11. He started wearing contact lenses (no daily disposables on those days) and quickly learned to be very careful with washing his hands etc. They transformed his life. He still wears glasses occasionally.
Don't bother with goggles.

I got my year 7 contacts when he had a term of rugby looming. He was appalled by what the goggles looked like.

My DS is +9 each eye, and he has goggles for sport, they were about £300.
His swimming prescription goggles were £30 by way of comparison. The rugby/hockey ones are specially toughened, and designed for sports.
He wears them for all sorts- all kinds of sports, go karting, drumming, anything really where he'll be moving his head around and there's a risk of his specs flying off. They've lasted really well (thank goodness, because I was really worried about the cost initially, but cost per use has been small now)

Thanks again for your thoughts everyone. Numbkinuts - very useful link. Thanks.

I wore contacts for decades but now only wear glasses because I found lenses uncomfortable and expensive (weird prescription). Maybe it would be different for ds. He just seems a bit young for contacts - he's lonly 11. I'd think I'd be prepared to invest in rugby goggles if I thought he'd be interested in rugby long term, but he's always loathed football and is not really a joiner in-er in general so I really can't imagine him suddenly becoming a rugby fanatic.

Anyway, I've emailed the head of pe setting out the issue and asked what the options might be.

Another vote for contacts. Our local club wouldn’t let DS play with goggles (although reading other posts, I think that’s an ott reaction!)

DS has worn them since age 10 and took them on residential too! I know other children of 7 who have worn them for rugby too. Expensive but cheaper and nicer than goggles for us)

DS wears contacts. He's in a football academy. No issues

What does he do when he's swimming?

Do you need contacts or glasses for swimming??? Surely everyone can see a big wall approaching!

People are suggesting contacts for ease. But some of us can't put our fingers in our eyes so it's far from easy.

I'm -7 I'd struggle to find my way out of the changing room without contacts.

I'm going off on a tangent here, but this is another example of the many hidden costs of secondary school. DS's school is Rugby mad, it is compulsory for all, no excuses, or don't bother applying is the general impression given out. DS has to have a mouthguard and they 'strongly recommend' the made to measure ones which are £££. A company come in and fits everyone for them and you have to state if you are just going to use a boil and bite one like DS (still a cost), making you feel like a poor outcast if you don't do what everyone else does. Sorry for ranting...

I would go for contacts, OP, but your son may try them and not like them. Worth a try first though! If I paid £300 for goggles, DS would lose them within a week (dyspraxia/ADD).

You can get made to measure mouth guards for around £30 and they will last but only any good once teeth are established and no movement. I'd second contacts as you only need to buy a few pairs - they are expensive - maybe he'll want to wear them at other times too....

DS is +7 in both eyes. He wears sports goggles for hockey, badminton and basketball. We bought them from Amazon for £15 (Panlees) but the lenses were around £70 due to his prescription. He so much more confident and gets stuck in now.

He did play rugby a few years ago and the club bought the 'allowed' ones from Italy - they have inserts so more than one child could use them (although not at the same time obvs). They are very good but I think there should be more flexibility.