OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (June 5, 2019) – The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) is warning lacrosse players, coaches and teams to avoid purchasing or using lacrosse balls with the “KSONE” brand.
NOCSAE has determined that lacrosse balls bearing the “KSONE” brand are being sold and distributed with the NOCSAE name and/or the SEI logos that indicate the ball is properly certified and meets NOCSAE standards. However, there is no version of “KSONE” brand lacrosse balls that meets the NOCSAE standard or has been certified by Safety Equipment Institute. These balls may be sold online with a promo that states they are “independently certified”. This is a false and misleading statement. Following are some examples of “KSONE” brand lacrosse balls that feature misleading and inaccurate information and logos:
NOCSAE encourages consumers that have purchased these products to contact the company, store or website that sold the balls. Consumers should not rely solely on the presence of on-ball marking to assess whether lacrosse balls meet the NOCSAE standard. To ensure products have been certified to the NOCSAE standard, NOCSAE recommends checking the name of the manufacturer and the ball model against the certified product list available on the SEI website (www.seinet.org).
Without proper testing and certification to the NOCSAE standard, lacrosse balls could pose safety risks for players. US Lacrosse, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) require that all balls used in lacrosse games meet the NOCSAE standard to help protect players from potential safety risks. In addition, all three governing bodies strongly encourage the use of balls that meet the NOCSAE standard for practice games. The NOCSAE standard for newly manufactured lacrosse balls includes specifications and performance requirements related to weight, density, size and other quality controls.
NOCSAE will continue to provide updates on this issue as new information becomes available. More information on all NOCSAE standards is available at www.nocsae.staging.mysites.io.