Monroe Bryant Oakland, Calif. Is a goalkeeper allowed to wear a helmet in a game? Mike Woitalla: I would certainly not permit it. Rule IV (1) (a): Player’s Equipment, states that “The basic compulsory equipment of a player shall consist of a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shinguards and footwear.” No mention of helmet, plus Rule IV (1) (b) states: “A player shall not wear anything which is dangerous to another player.” A helmet is dangerous to the other players. Whenever you allow someone to wear a helmet that person becomes more reckless. If they claim it’s a soft helmet, remember, it’s solid enough to protect that person’s head, which means the helmet-wearer knows he or she has a huge advantage in a battle with a helmet-less player. The specter of helmet-wearing has been raised by several manufacturers who claim their helmets will protect children. The U.S. Soccer Federation and FIFA is having to consider appeals from these manufacturers, who were no doubt inspired by the formidable purchase power of America’s soccer moms. Let’s hope that helmet-wearing never makes its way into soccer. It will cause much more damage than it will prevent. (If you have a question for a Soccer America Magazine editor, click “Q&A with SA Editors” in the left column of the home page under “Interactive.”)