NAERA Releases 2021 Helmet Recommendation Letter

DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (September 10, 2021) – The National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) sent out its annual letter from executive director Tony Beam addressing reconditioning and recertification recommendations for football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets. The text of the letter is below:

September 1, 2021

NAERA, NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) and helmet manufacturers are informing you of reconditioning and recertification recommendations for football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets.

NAERA recommends that during every football, lacrosse, baseball and softball season or practice period, every helmet should be cleaned and inspected regularly by a school or organization staff member with knowledge of manufacturer recommendations. We further recommend every helmet should be reconditioned and recertified annually unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer. ONLY a company licensed by NOCSAE can perform the recertification of football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets. For a list of NAERA members that are licensed by NOCSAE please visit the NAERA website at www.naera.net. More information regarding NOCSAE and its standards can be found at www.nocsae.org.

Reconditioning/Recertification and Sanitization Post COVID-19: NAERA recommends every football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmet be reconditioned and recertified prior to being issued to all athletes, unless stated otherwise by the manufacturer. NAERA further recommends that nonrecertifiable equipment, including but not limited to, football and lacrosse shoulder pads, chest protectors and shin guards be sanitized in accordance to manufacturer guidelines.

On January 1, 2017, NOCSAE put into effect standard ND 001 6.1.1 shown below.

ND 001 6.1.1. Helmets intended to be recertified shall have a recertification interval provided by the manufacturer. Certification life is limited to this time period. Helmets not recertified during the stated interval shall no longer be certified. Recertification interval required for warranty validation shall satisfy this requirement.

What does ND 001 6.1.1 mean for your school or organization? For Football helmets, as of this writing, the requirements from all football helmet manufacturers for recertification is a minimum of every other year. If you acquired new helmets in 2019 these helmets will need recertification per this standard for 2021 play.

Helmets that have a lapsed certification per NOCSAE DOC. 001 may be recertified under most conditions. Always ask your NAERA representative if you have doubts. Remember when your team Captain or Coach tells the official your team is legally equipped, you need to know that is correct and factual.

Every state association playing under NFHS (National Federation of State High School Associations) and NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) rules has adopted the NOCSAE standards for football, lacrosse, baseball and softball helmets. Other state associations may have similar rules; however, most support the helmet manufacturers recommendations.

Please make certain your school or organization is using a reconditioning company licensed by NOCSAE. 

Sincerely,

Tony Beam, BA, E.S., CAA
Executive Director, NAERA

Click here for the listing of NOCSAE licensed reconditioners.