OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (August 5, 2020) ― The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) held its first virtual public meeting on Friday, July 24. The Standards Committee addressed updates to athletic equipment safety standards for a range of sports and advanced discussions on the proposed youth football helmet standard and proposed revisions to the performance standard to protect against commotio cordis.

Proposed New Youth Football Helmet Performance Standard

In January 2020, the Standards Committee voted to move forward with developing a football helmet standard specific to youth players. NOCSAE’s existing football helmet standard applies to players of all sizes, and helmets that are small enough to be worn by “youth players” are generally tested on a biofidelic head form that is similar to a 50th percentile 10-year-old male.

The development of any new standard begins with a “proposed” new standard which is the first step in a multi-year process to develop and refine performance and test criteria. The standard will remain in “proposed” status for a minimum of twelve months, during which time NOCSAE invites all interested parties to submit comments, objections and suggestions.

At the July meeting, the technical director recommended terminology and test requirements for the proposed Standard Performance Specification for Newly Manufactured Youth Football Helmets (ND006-20). Youth Football is defined as football played by persons who have not yet reached high school, or who are participating in youth football. To provide starting points for comments and discussions, the proposed new youth football helmet standard suggests a weight limit of 3.5 pounds for the helmet, facemask and attachments, and peak rotational acceleration limits of 2,000 radians per second squared (or rad/sec²). As proposed, the drop test criteria will remain the same for the youth helmet as the existing NOCSAE football helmet standard. The technical director also provided a progress update on the development of initial pneumatic ram and impactor head prototypes, and presented and discussed multiple comments and suggestions received from interested parties regarding the proposed new standard. As a next step, the technical director recommended NOCSAE develop a rigorous test plan to examine the system and feasibility of the proposed test standard.

The NOCSAE Standards Committee recognizes there are significant concerns and questions about risks related to youth tackle football shared by diverse stakeholders, as well as ongoing policy discussions across the country about how best to address and manage these risks. However, as long as youth continue to play this sport, NOCSAE believes it has a responsibility to advance the development of a youth helmet football performance standard that is evidence-based.

The proposed standard is expected to undergo significant changes in the development process which will likely take several years. A copy of the proposed standard is available for review at this link. More information about the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) recommendations and research studies that informed the proposed standard are available in NOCSAE’s Youth Helmet Football Standard Research and Development Update.

Proposed Revisions to the Performance Standard to Protect Against Commotio Cordis

The technical director also provided an update on ongoing efforts to refine the testing process for the Standard Test Method and Performance Specification Used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protectors for Commotio Cordis (ND200-20). NOCSAE has received significant public input on the testing process and performance criteria, and continues to work with key stakeholders to identify and address proposed revisions to the existing standard. Key areas of focus include identifying a methodology to ensure consistency in the placement of protective products on the mechanical chest surrogate throughout the testing process and refining the impact protocols as they relate to the cardiac load cells. The Standards Committee did not take voting action.

Reaffirmation of Existing Standards

NOCSAE and ANSI protocols require a formal reaffirmation of all standards that have not been modified or revised in five years. The Standards Committee has the option to maintain, revise or withdraw these standards. In accordance with that requirement, the Standards Committee voted to reaffirm two existing standards, including the Standard Performance Specification for Recertified Football Helmets (ND004-11m15) and the Test Method and Performance Specification for Football Gloves (ND019-10m15a).

Updates to Existing Standards

The Standards Committee also acknowledged minor modifications to existing standards, including clarifying the ram mass for the Standard Pneumatic Ram Test Method (ND081-18am20).

Potential New Standard for Non-Contact Football Headgear

The Standards Committee continues to evaluate the possibility of developing a new equipment performance standard for head and face protection for flag or touch football and similar sports like 7-on-7. Flag football is currently one of the fastest growing team sports and more youth are playing flag football today than tackle football. Preliminary data suggest that serious head and facial injury occasionally occurs from unanticipated and unintentional contact with other players and impacts with the ground, and that many of these injuries are preventable with appropriate and effective protective equipment. NOCSAE is evaluating the injury epidemiology for head and face injuries in the sport, that might inform headgear and/or faceguard performance requirements.

Update on Certification and Licensing

NOCSAE is the only sports standards organization that mandates third-party certification and specifies the level of compliance that must be demonstrated to receive such certification. Manufacturers must prove that the products they’re submitting for certification meet the NOCSAE standard to a 95% confidence level. Certification to NOCSAE standards is managed by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI), an independent, ANSI/ISO 17065 accredited certifying body. NOCSAE continues to work with Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) to refine and enforce the certification process for all equipment subject to NOCSAE standards, and to take appropriate action to protect the integrity of NOCSAE standards.

More information on all NOCSAE standards is available at www.nocsae.org.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (June 2020) ― The NOCSAE Standards committee will meet virtually on July 24, 2020 to discuss research findings from the NOCSAE Scientific Advisory Committee, as well as review modifications to standards and consider a proposed revision. Here is a link to the agenda for the meeting.

The committee will consider this revision to ND200 – the Standard Test Method and Performance Specification Used in Evaluating the Performance Characteristics of Protectors for Commotio Cordis.

Individuals interested in attending this meeting must register in advance at this link.

The opportunity to make comments during the meeting will be limited by time, so if you have comments regarding the agenda or specific to this revision that you want the committee to address, please make them in advance of the meeting. Comments specific to ND200 may be made through the website here. You must be registered on the website to make comments regarding this standard. If you do not wish to register, but still want to submit comments regarding this or other agenda topics, please do so directly to Mike Oliver at mike.oliver@nocsae.org before Thursday, July 23.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (May 2020) ― In light of the concerns regarding coronavirus (COVID-19), NOCSAE’s Summer Standards Committee Meeting will be held virtually on or about July 24, 2020, but the specific date and time has not yet been confirmed. Interested parties will be able to revisit www.nocsae.org later this summer to register and gain further details.

NOCSAE’s research grant program has also been postponed this year due to issues relating to the pandemic. New schedules for initial grant applications will be announced soon. Researchers are encouraged to check back on the “Research Grant Program” section of www.nocsae.org and follow NOCSAE on social media at https://twitter.com/NOCSAE for announcements regarding updated deadlines and any new grant application procedures.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (March 10, 2020) ― The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) held its winter public meeting in Phoenix on January 31. The Standards Committee took steps to advance and update athletic equipment safety standards for a range of sports, including a key vote to formally begin the development process for a youth football helmet performance standard. This vote was the culmination of input from NOCSAE’s Scientific Advisory Committee and findings from two recent youth football research studies funded by NOCSAE. The new standard development process begins with a “proposed” new standard which is the first step in a multi-year effort to develop and refine performance and test criteria. The standard will remain in “proposed” status for a minimum of twelve months, during which time NOCSAE invites all interested parties to submit comments, objections and suggestions.

The Standards Committee also discussed the potential need for new equipment standards for football shoulder pads and flag football head protection.

Background on the Proposed New Youth Football Helmet Performance Standard

For more than ten years, NOCSAE has worked to develop a youth football helmet standard that is evidence-based. In 2017, NOCSAE’s Scientific Advisory Committee recommended two research initiatives to determine the magnitude and frequency of head impacts for youth football players ages 5 to 10 and 11 to 14 years old and explore potential criteria for a youth helmet football standard. The NOCSAE board agreed and provided a total of $493,000 in funding to support the research.

At the meeting in Phoenix, Dr. Blaine Hoshizaki, Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa and Dr. Steve Rowson, Associate Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics at Virginia Tech presented findings from these youth tackle football studies. Dr. Hoshizaki’s team studied head impacts among 60 youth football players and Dr. Rowson’s research provided critical insights on biomechanics of concussion in youth players. The findings helped the Technical Director to develop a preliminary test protocol for a youth football helmet.

After discussions and input from interested parties during the meeting, the Standards Committee voted to move forward with developing a football helmet standard specific to youth players. The NOCSAE Standards Committee recognizes there are significant concerns and questions about risks related to youth tackle football shared by diverse stakeholders, as well as ongoing policy discussions across the country about how best to address and manage these risks. In fact, some members of the NOCSAE Standards Committee support recommendations to prohibit tackle football for youth under a certain age to minimize these risks. However, as long as youth continue to play this sport, NOCSAE believes it has a responsibility to advance the development of a youth helmet football performance standard that is evidence-based.

For the purpose of the standard, youth is defined as those who have not yet reached high school. The proposed new standard (ND006-20) will remain in “proposed” status for a minimum of twelve months, during which NOCSAE invites all interested parties to provide input through its website or by email. NOCSAE expects the proposed standard to undergo significant changes in the development process which will likely take several years. A copy of the proposed standard is available for review at this link. More information about the SAC and the research studies is also available in NOCSAE’s Youth Helmet Football Standard Research and Development Update.

NOCSAE’s existing football helmet standard applies to players of all sizes, and helmets that are small enough to be worn by “youth players” are required to be tested on a biofidelic head form that replicates the head of a 50th percentile 10-year-old male.

Updates to Existing Standards

The Standards Committee approved minor modifications to existing standards, including technical clarifications for the pneumatic ram test standard and a proposed revision to the headform positioning to be used during impact attenuation tests. The technical director also provided an update on analysis of data and outcomes related to the mechanical chest surrogate used in testing for the commotio cordis chest protector standard.

Potential New Equipment Safety Standards for Flag Football and Football Shoulder Pads 

The Standards Committee agreed to continue evaluating the possibility of developing new equipment performance standards for flag football head and face protection, and for football shoulder pads. Flag football is currently one of the fastest growing team sports and allows players of all ages to enjoy the game without many of the injury risks associated with tackle football. Preliminary data suggest that occasionally serious head and facial injury occurs from unanticipated contact with other players and impacts with the ground, and that many if these injuries are preventable. NOCSAE is also considering possible criteria for a performance standard for football shoulder pads. Recent data suggest that a significant percentage of concussions occur from shoulder pad impacts to the helmet of the concussed player, and NOCSAE is exploring the feasibility and potential efficacy of shoulder pad performance as related to reducing head accelerations in those circumstances.

Counterfeit Lacrosse Balls

NOCSAE continues to take aggressive steps to stop the sale of counterfeit lacrosse balls by certain vendors, primarily on the internet. Over the last few years, NOCSAE has worked with Amazon, GoDaddy and other online shopping platforms to shut down vendors selling lacrosse balls that have NOCSAE and SEI certification language and logos, but which have not been certified to the NOCSAE standard. NOCSAE warns coaches, parents and athletes to use caution when purchasing lacrosse balls, particularly online. Consumers should not rely on the presence of logos to assess whether lacrosse balls meet the NOCSAE standard. To ensure these products have been certified to the NOCSAE standard, NOCSAE recommends checking the name of the manufacturer in the certified product list available on the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) website (www.seinet.org). NOCSAE will continue to provide updates on this issue as new information becomes available.

Information about NOCSAE’s recent consumer alert regarding “KSONE” lacrosse balls is available at this link.

More information on all NOCSAE standards is available at www.nocsae.org.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (March 2020) ― At the NOCSAE Winter Standards Committee meeting in January 2020, the Standards Committee voted to move forward with developing a football helmet standard specific to youth players, defined for this purpose as either (1) those players who have not yet reached high school, or (2) those playing in designated youth football programs.

The proposed new standard (ND006-20), which can be reviewed here, will remain in “proposed” status for a minimum of twelve months, during which NOCSAE encourages feedback on the standard from all interested parties. Comments can be posted within the appropriate comment section for that standard on the website (login here and visit ND006 in the Standards Matrix), or they can be sent via email to mike.oliver@nocsae.org.  When posting comments on the website, you can choose whether to make the comment public or private. Comments sent by email will remain private unless you request otherwise.

Please Note: There are significant portions of this standard that are not complete, including threshold performance values and testing protocol. No manufacturer is permitted to claim compliance with the standard, and no governing body should require compliance unless and until the NOCSAE Standards Committee votes to raise the proposed standard to final status. NOCSAE expects to receive significant input and feedback on all aspects of this proposed standard and encourages all stakeholders and interested parties to participate in this review and comment process. Each comment will be reviewed and a response provided if appropriate.

NOCSAE expects the proposed standard will undergo significant changes in the development process, which will likely take several years.

For information regarding the research and development leading to the approval of the proposed youth helmet football standard, read the “Youth Helmet Football Standard Research and Development Update.”

To learn more about the standards adoption procedure, or how a proposed standard is finalized as a new standard, click here.

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (January 2020) ― NOCSAE, which celebrates its semicentennial this year, started the year 2020 as a newly Accredited Standards Developer (ASD) of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

After an extensive review process, ANSI approved the NOCSAE standards development procedures and process, and on Dec. 30, 2019, recognized NOCSAE as an accredited standards developer. NOCSAE performance and test standards for athletic equipment are some of the most demanding athletic equipment standards in the world and are incorporated by the vast majority of athletic governing bodies.

ANSI accreditation is the culmination of six years of work by NOCSAE to engage stakeholders, refine existing standards adoption protocols and meet ANSI accreditation requirements for open participation, due process, balance and prevention of non-dominance by any single interest group.  ANSI accreditation will provide NOCSAE with the opportunity to submit its standards for acceptance as American National Standards on the national and international stage, and reinforces NOCSAE’s ongoing commitment to fair and balanced athletic equipment performance standards.

“NOCSAE is proud to have received official ANSI accreditation in recognition of a continued, long-standing commitment to open standards development and practices,” said NOCSAE Executive Director and General Counsel Mike Oliver. “Standards play an essential role in addressing athletic safety concerns and they will continue to be vital as technological advances increase the options for preventing and reducing the severity of sports injuries. For 50 years, NOCSAE has been at the forefront of this work, and will continue to advance our core mission, which is the safety and protection of athletes.”

About ANSI
(ANSI) is a private nonprofit organization whose mission is to enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American quality of life by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of the voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Through its members, staff, constituents, partners and advocates, ANSI responds directly to the standardization and conformity assessment interests and needs of consumers, government, companies and organizations. ANSI coordinates the U.S. voluntary consensus standards system, providing a neutral forum for the development of policies on standards issues and serves as a watchdog for standards development and conformity assessment programs and processes. Its membership is comprised of businesses, professional societies and trade associations, standards developers, government agencies, and consumer and labor organizations. The ANSI process  ensures that all interested and affected parties have an opportunity to participate in a standard’s development. It also serves and protects the public interest since standards developers accredited by ANSI must meet the Institute’s requirements for openness, balance, consensus and other due process safeguards. For more information, visit www.ansi.org.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (November 2019) ― In November, safety alerts from the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) were shared regarding the following products:

• Signature Lacrosse balls, model 1.3 (green, yellow, white, neon pink and neon orange), model 1.6 KS – KSONE brand (all colors), model LU 1.4 (green) and model UA 1.5 (yellow, pink, green and orange).
• Force 3 Pro Gear chest protector CPN-YTH, CPN-INT, CPN-ADT.

A recall notice was issued for the Signature Lacrosse ball model 1.3 in green. The Signature Lacrosse ball model 1.3 balls in yellow, white, neon pink and neon orange were withdrawn from the SEI certified product list on Wednesday, November 13, 2019.

A recall notice was issued for the Signature Lacrosse ball model 1.6 KS (KSONE) ball, Signature Lacrosse ball model LU 1.4 and Signature Lacrosse ball model UA 1.5 (in the colors mentioned above).

A recall notice was also issued for the Force 3 Pro Gear chest protector CPN-YTH, CPN-INT, CPN-ADT because it was prematurely released before official certification by SEI.

NOCSAE cautions the public against the use of these products and recommends regularly checking the SEI website at www.seinet.org to stay updated on products that have been properly certified to the NOCSAE standard, as well as to be notified of safety alerts and any changes to this listing.

Numerous national and international regulatory bodies for sports require NOCSAE standards, which are constantly being updated to reflect the latest science, technology and medicine.

Without proper testing and certification to the NOCSAE standard, athletic equipment could pose safety risks for players.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (August 12, 2019) – The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) has released the following statement to clarify the organization’s rules related to football helmets.

NOCSAE sets test and performance standards for football helmets and the NFL requires that football helmets worn by players in the league meet NOCSAE standards.

The rule that prevents recertification for helmets after 10 years is set by a separate organization called NAERA, the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association. NOCSAE does not participate in the management or administration of NAERA and does not direct or control NAERA policies.

NOCSAE does not have a rule that prevents players in the NFL or any league from wearing specific football helmets or football helmets that are more than 10 years old. There is also no NOCSAE rule that prevents football helmets 10 years old or older from being recertified to NOCSAE standards.

NOCSAE has established the most rigorous standards for football helmets in the world and NOCSAE’s first priority is the safety and protection of athletes. NOCSAE is an independent and nonprofit standards development body with the sole mission to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for athletic equipment.

Learn more at www.nocsae.org.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does the NFL require that players wear helmets certified to NOCSAE standards?

Yes, the NFL requires players to wear helmets that meet test and performance standards set by NOCSAE. NOCSAE does not certify or approve athletic equipment. Football helmets are certified to NOCSAE standards by Safety Equipment Institute (SEI). Third-party certification enhances the integrity of all NOCSAE standards, giving athletes confidence that their athletic equipment has been tested by a neutral, independent body to meet the highest performance standards.

Does NOCSAE certify athletic equipment?

NOCSAE sets test and performance standards for athletic equipment, including football helmets. NOCSAE does not certify or approve athletic equipment. Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) oversees the certification of athletic equipment to NOCSAE standards. Third-party certification enhances the integrity of all NOCSAE standards, giving athletes confidence that their athletic equipment has been tested by a neutral, independent body to meet the highest performance standards.

Does NOCSAE have a rule that prevents helmets that are 10 years old or older from being worn or recertified to NOCSAE standards?

No. NOCSAE does not have a rule that prevents players in the NFL or any league from wearing football helmets that are more than 10 years old. There is also no NOCSAE rule that prevents football helmets 10 years old or older from being recertified to NOCSAE standards.

The rule that prevents recertification for helmets after 10 years is set by NAERA, the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association. NOCSAE does not participate in the management or administration of NAERA and does not direct or control NAERA policies.