The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment has voided the manufacturers NOCSAE certification for the Warrior Regulator and the Cascade Model R lacrosse helmets.

A product manufacturer certifies compliance with NOCSAE standards when it puts the NOCSAE name and logo on a helmet. The certification tells the player, parent, coach and the governing bodies that the helmet has been subjected to all of the required testing, quality control and quality assurance obligations specified by the NOCSAE standard. The manufacturer must confirm that its helmet meets the standard in all aspects.

The Warrior Regulator, which is made by Warrior Sports, and the Cascade Model R, which is made by a subsidiary of Performance Sports Group, had been certified by the manufacturers as compliant with the NOCSAE standard. NOCSAE conducted an independent investigation and evaluation of the Warrior Regulator and the Cascade Model R, which included a review of each manufacturer’s internal certification testing and quality control data. NOCSAE also purchased these models independently through various retail sources and sent them to its contracted laboratory for testing.

As a result of its investigation, NOCSAE has concluded that these models, for all manufacturing dates, do not comply with the NOCSAE standard ND041 and that the manufacturers certifications of compliance on those helmets is invalid. NOCSAE has contacted each manufacturer and advised them of its conclusions.

The rules of play for lacrosse as provided by US Lacrosse, National Collegiate Athletic Association, National Federation of State High School Associations and other organizations mandate that lacrosse helmets meet the NOCSAE standard. NOCSAE has advised them of its conclusions and anticipates that each organization will notify its members of this decision.

NOCSAE has been advised that Warrior and Cascade are working to address this issue, and it is anticipated that each will develop a procedure to assist players and teams who use these models.

NOCSAE, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, is an independent and nonprofit standard-setting body with the sole mission to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for protective equipment. Formed in 1969, 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.