For some time now I've been intrigued by the practice of players removing their mouthguard when having a set shot at goal.

I'm of the view that if you can run, kick, mark, handball, tackle & be tackled, contest balls in the air and on the ground, hit and and be hit all with a mouthguard in place. taking a set shot with the same piece of equipment in place should be a piece of...........cake by comparison.
 

So players past & present of any level, did you remove your gumshield for set shots ? If so, why so ?

Who cares really. Its just a comfort thing as no one can knock thier teeth out while their kicking for goal

 

Would help with relaxing and breathing. All other times on the ground you are rushed and not relaxed, kicking for goal needs a clear mind and to be relaxed, having you mouth jammed open by a piece of plastic isn't all that relaxing. Then again they would be so used to the mouth guard they shouldn't even know it is there. 

Thought this was going to be a topic on why some players don't wear a mouth guard at all. That is something that really has me scratching my head.

2 hours ago, Go the Biff said:

For some time now I've been intrigued by the practice of players removing their mouthguard when having a set shot at goal.

I'm of the view that if you can run, kick, mark, handball, tackle & be tackled, contest balls in the air and on the ground, hit and and be hit all with a mouthguard in place. taking a set shot with the same piece of equipment in place should be a piece of...........cake by comparison.
 

So players past & present of any level, did you remove your gumshield for set shots ? If so, why so ?

 

Most kicking and goal practice, since young, the players (or us) wouldn't have worn mouthguards. E.g. Kick-kick with friends, and running around the backyard, street, park, or oval. 

So taking it out best emulates the conditions they've practiced in most of the time 

E.g. that relaxed state of mind while lining up trying to hit a target or send it between two objects.

Edited May 29, 20178 yr by ignition.

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

Thought this was going to be a topic on why some players don't wear a mouth guard at all. That is something that really has me scratching my head.

I never did.

1 hour ago, Nasher said:

Thought this was going to be a topic on why some players don't wear a mouth guard at all. That is something that really has me scratching my head.

I've noticed that Oliver has gone back to wearing one but Petracca doesn't.

Madness.

2 minutes ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I've noticed that Oliver has gone back to wearing one but Petracca doesn't.

Madness.

Some of the guards are really clear and small making them hard to see. I'd be surprised if petracca didn't wear one....

11 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Some of the guards are really clear and small making them hard to see. I'd be surprised if petracca didn't wear one....

http://www.aflphotos.com.au/galleries/results/?q=petracca+2017

Yeah look like he's selective in using it, Probably hates them and avoids it if possible but I've seen him wear one occasionally. Pretty daft not to IMO but I hated wearing them as a kid as I could barely talk.

Edited May 29, 20178 yr by danielE288

i take mine out & chuck it in my sock, cos if it comes lose as i'm running in i'm even less chance of kicking straight! 

I was very much a Russell Robertson type of player where marking was concerned, and spekkies were my forte, until I took a screamer too close to a steel-topped fence and hit it mouth first on the way down...without a mouthguard for protection 

6 months of root canal treatment and great expense later I was lucky to save my front teeth.

This is a lesson for all young footballers out there...Russell Robertson should stick to marketing?

Edited May 29, 20178 yr by joeboy

I can hardly breathe through one nostril as the dividing cartledge of my nose has been forcefully pushed across it and I had a second tooth grow on the inside of the other teeth and it made wearing one insanely hard to breathe.

6 minutes ago, Gorgoroth said:

I can hardly breathe through one nostril as the dividing cartledge of my nose has been forcefully pushed across it and I had a second tooth grow on the inside of the other teeth and it made wearing one insanely hard to breathe.

Same - couldn't breathe at all with them in. That was some time ago when it felt like there was half a flipper stuffed in your mouth. They are, no doubt, a lot better these days.

7 hours ago, Clint Bizkit said:

I've noticed that Oliver has gone back to wearing one but Petracca doesn't.

Madness.

I don't think Gawn ever wears one either. 

I'm no expert on this topic but I noticed this occurs more than just set shots. Watching the replay, Oscar took his out a couple of times after we conceded  a goal, Vince  was holding his after we scored a goal and Hannan took his out after giving away a 50 and running back to man the mark. 

On 29 May 2017 at 4:06 PM, Clint Bizkit said:

I've noticed that Oliver has gone back to wearing one but Petracca doesn't.

Madness.

 

I know it was stupid, but as a young man I never wore one. I just couldn't breath properly and felt like it was impeding my ability to call for the footy. Was a lot happier without one, although it was incredibly risky, especially considering my penchant for being a bit yappy.

There is strong evidence to show that not only do they prevent dental injuries, but also reduce the incidence of jaw fractures and concussion. They can be made small enough to be quite unobtrusive and snug fitting. I'm not sure to what extent the club recommends that players wear them, but many schools will not allow kids to play football or hockey without them. I'm assuming the club covers players for the costs associated with injuries, either directly or via insurance. It would be in everyone's best interests to enforce a mouth guard policy, and as an incentive have the players responsible for the costs of dental injuries if they choose not to.

 

I think the players remove the mouth guards because they know there's a TV close -up of their faces, and they want to look good.

It is a fallacy to suggest that their is a superior airway with the mouth guard removed. ( unless it's grossly wrongly moulded , in which case the player would find it impossible to run,or do anything energetic.)

Players should be encouraged to keep their mouth guards in at all times. It is a very poor example to young observers if they are removed all the time when taking set shots. It also wastes the limited time they have to prepare to kick.

Note Robbo senior's comments above . They are an essential piece of equipment , minimising the chances of jaw fractures and concussion, to say nothing of the expensive and disfiguring effect of broken teeth.

 

30 minutes ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

I think the players remove the mouth guards because they know there's a TV close -up of their faces, and they want to look good.

It is a fallacy to suggest that their is a superior airway with the mouth guard removed. ( unless it's grossly wrongly moulded , in which case the player would find it impossible to run,or do anything energetic.)

Players should be encouraged to keep their mouth guards in at all times. It is a very poor example to young observers if they are removed all the time when taking set shots. It also wastes the limited time they have to prepare to kick.

Note Robbo senior's comments above . They are an essential piece of equipment , minimising the chances of jaw fractures and concussion, to say nothing of the expensive and disfiguring effect of broken teeth.

 

i agree on the desirability

but, a fallacy? are you saying the posters who shared their experiences of using them and having breathing difficulties are telling porkies?

I thought this thread was started in relation to this:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/microchipped-mouthguard-to-help-doctors-improve-concussion-diagnosis/news-story/d21d521852fd1f8c1936bc2f596e8c21

(apologies if this has already been posted).

An excerpt: 

"A RADICAL mouthguard fitted with a computer chip has been developed to help combat career-ending concussions.Australian company Hit IQ last week fitted players from the Strathmore Football Club with guards designed to help doctors improve concussion diagnosis...."

 

 

3 hours ago, daisycutter said:

i agree on the desirability

but, a fallacy? are you saying the posters who shared their experiences of using them and having breathing difficulties are telling porkies?

I'm not suggesting they're telling deliberate lies, I'm just saying that any perceived sensation of respiratory obstruction from a professionally fitted mouth guard is purely psychological.

59 minutes ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

I'm not suggesting they're telling deliberate lies, I'm just saying that any perceived sensation of respiratory obstruction from a professionally fitted mouth guard is purely psychological.

I'm inclined to agree. It's a matter of application and perseverance. Professionally fitted mouthguards are tight enough to resist dislodgement during trauma. Taking them out while kicking for goal is a good way to lose them, and is a poor example for kids.

 

You'd think someone would come up with a specialist mouthguard for people with awkward teeth structures, smashed noses or any other factor which makes mouthguards especially uncomfortable or impractical. Far as I can figure, there hasn't been much progress in mouthguard 'technology', ever!