The most commonly stated reasons for not wearing protective equipment during the 2000 playing season*
| Reason for not using PPE | Headgear (n = 268) (%) | Mouthguards (n = 72) (%) |
|---|---|---|
| *The percentages add to more than 100% because players were requested to provide two responses. | ||
| PPE, personal protective equipment. | ||
| I don’t like wearing it | 44.8 | 30.6 |
| It is too uncomfortable | 40.7 | 45.8 |
| They restrict my airflow | 29.2 | |
| I cannot speak properly when I wear one | 16.7 | |
| I don’t need to | 17.2 | 12.5 |
| They restrict my performance | 12.5 | |
| It is too hot | 14.9 | |
| I don’t want to look stupid | 11.3 | |
| There is no rule making me wear it | 10.8 | |
| I have never tried one/ I have never considered it | 10.4 | |
| I don’t want it to affect how I play | 9.0 | |
| Other reasons | 18.6 | 38.9 |