High School and NCAA Mouthguard Requirements for Athletes

High School Athletes

Per the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSH), mouthguards are currently required for participation in these high school sports:

• Football
• Field hockey
• Ice hockey
• Lacrosse
• Wrestling (for wrestlers wearing braces)

All mouthguards, excluding wrestling devices, must be made with a visible color – not white or clear. Additionally, NFSH rules require all mouthguards used in wrestling (for those with braces) to cover both the upper and lower orthodontic appliances.

Source: NFSH 2022 Position Statement and Recommendations for Mouthguard use in Sports

College Athletes

The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) 2011-2012 Sports Medicine Handbook page98 requires athletes to use an intraoral mouthguard, that covers all the upper teeth, is a readily visible color (not white or clear), during regular season competition and NCAA Championships, when participating in the following sports:

• Football
• Field hockey (goalkeepers-not mandatory but strongly recommended)
• Ice hockey
• Lacrosse