Material Ref?

What about the material ref. In regular Rules there's at least 2 point about that, like having a safe mallet.

I saw in Karlsruhe one mallet from a london player who looks like this:

http://uppix.net/3/2/1/157ea2d1c93c402e4ded3f781b136.html

(from a cosmic player maybe).

What about the screw outside, who can very easily break on eye or two. Is that the responsability of ref, who didn't check mallet before the crash? is that the responsability of the player who handle this mallet, for playing with a dangerous tool? is that responsability of the victim, who had to check opponent mallet before playing?

Does the guy who claim about this kind of mallet look like a coward worm?

That mallet is a disgrace.

A disgrace that snapped.

only a coward worm would use a mallet like that.

A disgrace that snapped my thumb.

.

It has a retractable spike too.

hah Todd are you the coward worm ?

Solid British engineering. Nothing wrong with that.

Those rules are only there in case we need to enforce them in extreme cases. We certainly don't need a specific ref for this.

But, yeah, Cosmic Mat is definitely a coward worm.

(I actually think that mallet is sweet.)

What about the material ref. In regular Rules there's at least 2 point about that, like having a safe mallet.

We certainly don't need a specific ref for this.

Ha. Who opened the "rules we dont enforce" debate again. Lets see. Nobody ever checks barplugs. Nobody checks mallets either. Both those things are more dangerous to other players than the player who owns the dangerous equipment.

Its not big enough to need a ref, but maybe a compulsory equipment safety check before you can play in a tourney isnt a bad idea. Then again, how many compulsory helmet tourneys have we had where nobody wears helmets?

And lets not even (re)start the "no high-sticking" debate..

Those rules are only there in case we need to enforce them in extreme cases.

Whats an "extreme" case? After someone is injured? So a "slightly" dangerous mallet is okay? And yes, I know Ive been playing with a pretty dangerous one too lately. I think it was the look on Riks face that made me fix it up..

No one checks it and maybe they should, but i know the minute i see an unplugged bar i call it.. i won't play with someone who could take a core sample from me in a crash

only a coward worm would use a mallet like that.

jim is not a coward!

Nobody checks mallets either.

untrue, gabes reffed a bad game and not only looked at my mallet (i probably showed it to him) but whipped out his HT and bound it in his own penny the little angel.

At the euro's those safety rules were enforced. I know of two players that were handed bar plugs and one player had to remove a disc that was made of aluminum that was peeling up revealing sharp edges.

I don't recall any mallet issues we had though. We were mostly concerned with splintering wood and shattering epoxy/fiberglass. A screw protruding from the mallet head could fall under safety hazard...

edit* - looking at the closeup pic of that example above doesn't show a sharp screw-end, just bolts and a screw-head. I don't see anything wrong with it.

Oh, and to give my opinion to the questions asked.
It's ultimately the players responsibility to have a safe mallet as we are still a sport governed by the players.
According to insurance purposes though, in the result of an injury it would probably be the event organizer's responsibility. The ref's have no legal responsibilities and no formal training.

[..]
Its not big enough to need a ref, but maybe a compulsory equipment safety check before you can play in a tourney isnt a bad idea.[..]

i agree

I am willing to frisk players before matches if that helps.

you, you???? that the other day you couldn't kick a ball into the court for taking pics.... you?

That is what Will meant, that he will frisk us through the lens. He is very black and White about what is acceptable on court.

Rik, if you want me to be more 'hands-on' you only have to ask. But not in front of the young boy though.

you, you???? that the other day you couldn't kick a ball into the court for taking pics.... you?

i'm with will on this one mate. you have to respect a photographer. i'm sure there is some photojournalism ethical imperative or something about catching the process as it happens?

Here's the shot I took while Gabes was shouting "Will, do something instead of just taking fucking photographs" :)
I think I made the right decision.

Are the rest of that days photos anywhere Will?