Comments Now Open for Proposed Youth Football Helmet Standard

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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About NOCSAE
NOCSAE, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, is an independent and nonprofit standards development body with the mission to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for athletic equipment. Formed in 1970, NOCSAE is a leading force in the effort to improve athletic equipment and, as a result, reduce injuries. NOCSAE efforts include the development of performance and test standards for football helmets, gloves and facemasks, baseball and softball batter’s and catcher’s helmets, baseballs and softballs, ice hockey helmets, soccer shin guards, lacrosse helmets and facemasks, and polo helmets. NOCSAE is comprised of a board of directors representing stakeholders from a number of groups – including consumer and end users, equipment manufacturers and reconditioners, athletic trainers, coaches, equipment managers, and academic and sports medicine associations. These diverse interests have joined forces in an attempt to arrive at a common goal of reducing sports-related injuries. NOCSAE is a nonprofit, charitable organization supported by individuals and organizations with an interest in athletics. For more information, please visit www.nocsae.org.