A priority focus for NOCSAE has been the development of a football helmet standard to limit rotational accelerations involved in many concussions. The revised football helmet standard, which was finalized in 2017, utilizes a complex software program to collect helmet performance data during pneumatic ram testing. On June 15, 2018, the software developer advised NOCSAE that an error in one of the data analysis algorithms, which occurred when using a specific version of the software system, caused some of the data to be reported inaccurately. The inaccurate data related to the rotational acceleration results that are the basis of the revised standard. As a result of this development, the NOCSAE Standards Committee voted to postpone the effective date of the revised football helmet standard, which had been scheduled for November 2018.
After investigating the issue further and ensuring the software issues were resolved, the NOCSAE Standards Committee reconvened on Aug. 14, 2018 to vote on a revision to the specified impact recording software to be used in testing. It was also agreed that the effective date of the revised football helmet standard would be moved to November 2019.
About NOCSAE
NOCSAE, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, is an independent and nonprofit standards development body with the mission to commission research, establish standards for athletic equipment and encourage the dissemination of research findings on sport injury and prevention. 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.