Home >> 2009 High School & University Equipment Rules Conference Full Recap2009 High School & University Equipment Rules Conference Full Recap2009 SGMA/NFHS/NCAA Rules Meeting On Wednesday, April 22nd in Indianapolis, fifty-one sporting goods industry executives from 32 different sporting goods companies met with the leadership of SGMA, NCAA, and the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to discuss rules changes for college and high school sports. Sport committee meetings included baseball, basketball, field hockey, football, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, spirit, swimming, track & field, volleyball, and wrestling.
Other items on the agenda included presentations from the NFHS on the authenticating mark issue, changes to equipment guidelines and the injury surveillance system. Representatives from the NCAA and NOCSAE also gave updates on activities in their respective organizations.
Some of the key issues discussed in the various sport sessions are summarized below.
1. Football -- Discussion of football glove standard revision and the implementation of the NOCSAE standard. No major changes are expected from the proposed NOCSAE standard, which would take effect, at the earliest, for the 2011 season. The NCAA indicated they may soften the color requirements for football gloves in the near future, but a date for a decision has not been set. The NFHS football rules committee will meet November 18/19 and the NCAA football rules committee will meet in February 2010. No rule changes are proposed for hip, thigh, knee and tail pads for the upcoming season.
2. Softball – There was significant discussion of the ASTM standard for dynamic stiffness of softballs which has been adopted by ASA, NFHS and the NCAA highlighting the inability to achieve consistent test results from lab to labs. The SGMA will ask ASTM to reconsider the standard at the ASTM May meeting.
3. Field Hockey – There were continued discussions of potential changes in standards for eyewear protection for NFHS level play. NOCSAE will continue to review the available data, but no decisions or directions were considered. There are uniform specifications changes planned for the 2011 season.
The high school Injury Surveillance System reported on at last year’s meeting was expanded in 2008. Dr. Dawn Comstock of Ohio State University reported on the current findings, detailing injury results in nine sports tracked in 2008. The system has expanded and will track thirteen sports in 2009. It is SGMA’s belief the NFHS and NCAA injury surveillance system data will become the driving force for equipment rule modifications in the future concerning safety issues. (the report powerpoint is available in the password protected area of this page)
Mary Struckhoff, Assistant Director, of the Federation announced the Uniform Design Approval Program which allows companies to use the NFHS mark in their catalogs to show which uniform products meet NFHS guidelines is now available for use by all companies. The program guide is available by clicking on the Uniform Design Approval Program link below.
The SGMA/NFHS/NCAA Sports Rules Advisory Committee (Shawn Roman, Russell; Art Chou, Rawlings; Brad Gaff, Wilson; Gregg Hartley, SGMA) will meet with representatives of the NFHS and the NCAA in November, at a time to be determined. If you have issues concerning rules you would like them to discuss at this meeting please contact any member of the group prior to the meeting with your concerns.
Next years meeting is tentatively scheduled for April 21, 2010. Date confirmation and additional information will be made available as soon as possible. For further information please contact Gregg Hartley at SGMA, gregghartley@mac.com.
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