The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Football Rules Committee, in collaboration with the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), has announced a new arm covering standard for high school football game play. This standard, designed to ensure fairness in competition, is reportedly set to take effect during the 2027/28 football season.
The NFHS Football Rules Committee announced the requirement for this new standard in February 2025, designed to be a “fairness standard” rather than a “safety standard,” aimed at maintaining fair competition in high school football.
Similar to the existing standard for football gloves, the new arm covering standard applies to products with silicone or other grip-enhancing components. Brands producing grip-enhanced arm coverings must meet the certification requirements to ensure compliance with the standard.
Certification will be conducted by Exponent, Inc., an independent, third-party testing facility that also certifies football gloves to the SFIA standard. Coverings are defined as any material that covers the arm from the wrist to the shoulder.
Key Dates and Requirements
- Testing Submission: Brands can submit their products to SFIA/Exponent for testing starting August 1, 2025.
- Certification Process: Companies wishing to participate in the certification program must sign an SFIA Licensing Agreement and meet specifications verified through third-party testing conducted by Exponent’s testing laboratory.
- Requesting Documentation: Interested parties can obtain the license agreement and standard specifications by contacting Gregg Hartley* at SFIA. License agreements must be signed and returned to SFIA before testing can begin.
SFIA said arm coverings without silicone or grip-enhancing components are exempt from the certification process; however, Exponent offers visual testing at a significantly reduced cost for brands seeking confirmation that their arm coverings are legal for game play.
*Gregg Hartley can be reached here.
Image courtesy Nxtrnd
