National Federation of State High School Associations
NFHS EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES, UNIFORM AND RULE CHANGES
CHANGES EFFECTIVE 2012-13
Baseball:
Rule 1-3-2: Effective January 1, 2012 the bat which may be a wood or non-wood product shall be a smooth implement, from the top of
the cap to the top of the knob. All non-wood bats shall meet the Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution (BBCOR) performance standard,
and such bats shall be labeled with a silk screen or other permanent certification mark.
Basketball:
Rule 2-11-12: The officials scorer is required to wear a black-and-white vertically striped garment.
Boys Lacrosse:
Rule 1-7-3: All hollow crosse handles must have their open end covered with an end cap manufactured for a lacrosse stick.
Rule 1-5: Allows the use of a lime-green ball and stipulates that a white ball shall be used unless both coaches agree to use one of the
other allowed colors.
Rule l-9-2e: Specifies that a protective cup is recommended for all players.
Rule 2-5-2: Allows officials to wear either black or white shorts.
Girls Gymnastics:
Rule 6-1-2: The landing area must be matted with a minimum of 18 feet by 8 feet.
Rule 8-l-2a: Matting: The working area under the beam (15' wide x15 ½’ long) and the landing area at each end of the beam (8' wide x
12' long) ...
Girls Lacrosse:
Rule 2-13: Uniform Requirements-Beginning in 2013, all shirts shall be of a single, solid color.
Ice Hockey:
Rule 3-3-2 and 3-3-3: Goalkeeper Equipment-Leg Pads will be a maximum 11 inches wide and maximum 38 inches long. Blocker glove
padding will be a maximum 8 inches wide and maximum 15 inches long. Catching glove will be a maximum 45 inch perimeter and a
maximum 18 inch length across. The wrist cuff will be a maximum 4 inches by a maximum 8 inches.
Soccer:
Rule 4-1-1: Shinguards must meet the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) specifications.
The NOCSAE seal and the appropriate height range of the player shall appear on the shinguard. Beginning with the 2012 fall season, the
NOCSAE seal and height range shall be permanently marked on the front of the shinguard.
Rule 4-1-li1: Beginning with the 2012 fall season, all jerseys shall be numbered on the back with a different Arabic number at least 6
inches in height and on the front (jersey or shorts) with the same number which shall be at least 4 inches in height. Numbers shall be of
contrasting color to the jersey (or shorts) and clearly visible.
Softball:
Rule 1-4-1b & c: The gloves/mitts shall not be entirely optic in color. The gloves/mitts shall not have an optic-colored marking on the
outside or inside that gives the appearance of the ball.
Track and Field:
Rules 7-4-6, 7-5-11 The crossbar in the high jump and pole vault shall be circular. Commonly used four-sided, flat crossbar ends or use
of a crossbar fitted with alternative ends (semicircular) are permitted.
CHANGES EFFECTIVE 2013 -14
Football:
Rule l-5-2b: Beginning with the 2013 season, gloves, which may be anchored with athletic tape, and even though modified, must meet
the NOCSAE test standard at the time of manufacture, unless made of unaltered plain cloth. A permanent, exact replica of the NOCSAE
glove seal (Meets NOCSAE Standard), that must be visible and appear legibly on the exterior wrist opening of the glove.
NOTES:
1. A glove is a covering for the hand having separate sections for each finger. Pads worn on the hand, but not having separate
sections encircling at least part of any finger are not gloves. The thumb is not considered a finger.
Ice Hockey:
Officials shall wear a half face shield which meets the HECC certification at the time of manufacture.
Soccer:
Rule 4-1-1b: Beginning with the 2013 fall season, the home team shall wear solid white jerseys and solid white socks.
CHANGES EFFECTIVE 2016-17
Volleyball:
Rule 4-2-2 Note: Beginning July 1, 2016, the libero shall wear a uniform top that is immediately recognized from all angles as being in
clear contrast to and distinct from the other members of the team. The libero and/or his/her teammates shall wear a solid-colored uniform
top.
Regarding the solid-colored top:
a. The solid-colored uniform top shall clearly contrast from the predominant color(s) ofthe teammates' uniform top.
Predominant color(s) is the color(s) appearing on approximately half of the uniform.
b. Sleeves shall be the same color as the body of the uniform top.
c. Piping/trim not exceeding 1 inch in total at its widest point may be placed along the seams and may be a different color(s)
than the uniform top.
d. Lettering and collars may be different color(s) than the uniform top.
e. Numbers shall be a contrasting color to the uniform top and meet all other specifications in Rule 4-2-4.
THE FOLLOWING SPORTS HAVE NO CHANGES IN THE AREA OF EQUIPMENT, FACILITIES
OR UNIFORMS AT THIS TIME:
Spirit and Wrestling.
THE CHANGES ARE IN SUMMARY FORM. FOR COMPLETE RULES, CONSULT THE
RESPECTIVE CURRENT NFHS RULES BOOK.
Revised 10-29-12