Gum shields

[pa___ul3]

sounds a bit daft but can you wear gum shields on your bottom teeth as opposed to top?

My front teeth are quite big so I struggle to get a gum shield that fits comfortably and was wondering if I could wear one on the bottom which may at least help with prevention of concussion.. or would it?

Is there any reason I shouldn't?

[annie0000]

Isn't lacross a bit like Shinty but tamer?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinty

[joggerjayne]

Golly, shinty does look quite similar.

I suppose the "rough" element of LaX is because -

- You carry the ball, so you can run at full sprint ... and if you collide with someone, you are running at full pelt.

- Because you throw it from the end of a stick, you can fire a LaX ball VERY fast ... and a LaX ball is VERY hard.

- When you do run into someone, they are holding a hard stick.

- You are allowed to check your opponent's stick when they are carring the ball, so there's the frequent risk of an accidental stick in the face.

- If you are knocked over running flat out, you hit the ground hard. You can't roll around like a footballer. You have to get up and rejoin your team, otherwise they will just replace you and carry on.

pa_ul ... I think I'm right here ... rugby players have a mutual respect for each other, because of the physical element. You have to respect someone who is continually taking one for the team over (80 minutes)? So, afterwards, you acknowledge that mutual respect with a slap on the back, and a few beers? Whereas footballers, as you say, are all a bit snidey, and if they hurt each other they get all weird about it.

I sometimes think that netball players take more knocks than footballers.

[jno]

I always thought rugby was safer than hockey or lacrosse because the players aren't armed.

I have a night tooth shield from my dentist, but it cost three figures (obviously it fits perfectly). For rugby purposes a mass-produced one should be all you need, and way cheaper.

[pa___ul3]

I think that pretty much covers it JJ, you can't not 'just take the hits' in rugby or that shows you up to be a weak player and you'll get torn apart. In football it's much more about the skill, you can be a wimp but still a bloody good footballer, so the machismo doesn't stop a 15 stone centre half from falling over at the slightest touch to win his team a free kick, and so with so much cheating going on, from both sides during every game, it's hard to hold the same respect for the opposition in football. This thread's gone miles from the original Q hasn't it! haha! Ah well, I like tangents!

[joggerjayne]

And speaking of gum shields ...

LOL

[joggerjayne]

pa_ul ...

Although I sometimes go to watch football ... ("come on you Gulls!!") ...

... I definitely prefer the company of rugby players to football players. With a load of rugby guys in the pub, there's this feeling of confidence and fitness, but courtesy and respect ... and a bit ot naughtiness, too. Very jolly.

[jno]

and a little dwarf throwing, always breaks the ice

[joggerjayne]

Well, it breaks the ice if the dwarf is thrown towards a frozen pond.

And also, there's that game where they all take their trousers down.

Although, curiously ... that seems to be almost all of the games.

Praise the lord for rugby drinking games, I say.

And speaking of gum shields ...

[jno]

I did speak of gum shields. My advice was sage and profound.

[joggerjayne]

Absolutely, but I was trying to keep the thread relevant to the original post by mentioning gum shields in each post.

=0)

And speaking of ... oh no, hang on, I've already done it.

[pa___ul3]

haha, we couldn't do midget throwing at our club, it'd be more likely the other way round, I'm 5'8" and around average in our team!!
Oh and thanks Jjno for your sage and profound advice on gum shields, I do have 2 generic, boil and fit gum shields but they just can't seem to contain my mighty gnashers, I'm making myself sound like a bald Ken Dodd now aren't I!
And JJ, I've yet to take part in that pull your trousers down game, we don't tend to bother since our former 1st team captain tends to take the attention, he's only about 5'5" but, let's say, dramatically out of proportion!!

[joggerjayne]

"dramatically out of proportion" ... Yay

You see, being in a pub with rugby players is SO MUCH more fun than going home to watch ...

Dunno. Whatever is on in the evenings. Big Brother, or something?

=0)

[pa___ul3]

I'd definitely agree, although I think, partly, for different reasons!