Football Glove & Arm Covering Specification Programs

Football Glove Specification Program

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and the Pop Warner Youth Leagues require football gloves used during game play to meet certain performance standards to ensure the glove does not give the player an unfair advantage in controlling the football.

The SFIA Football Glove Specification Program sets and meets the requirements of the NFHS and NCAA.

Arm Covering Specification Program

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, will take effect during the 2027/28 football season.

The SFIA Arm Covering Specification Program sets and meets the requirements of the NFHS.

ANNOUNCEMENT: The NFHS Football Rules Committee announced the requirement for this new standard in February 2025. Brands can submit their products for testing starting August 1, 2025. Click here to view the announcement sent on July 8, 2025.

This standard will take effect during the 2027/28 football season.

ABOUT TESTING & CERTIFICATION

Exponent, a certified ISO 9001 firm with over 90 scientific and engineering disciplines, with a staff of approximately 900 located in 20 offices throughout the United States and five international offices, is the independent lab that verifies gloves and arm coverings certified to SFIA standards meet the requirements of those specifications.

All brands and models of gloves and arm coverings listed on this page have met the SFIA performance specification standards that certify the gloves or arm coverings are legal for use in gameplay. All products that have met the specification will possess the mark, as depicted below, on the glove or arm covering, and, on merchandise packaging.

If you are interested in having your gloves or arm sleeves certified, have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Chandler Hoffman.

FOOTBALL GLOVE BRANDS & MODELS

Arm Covering BRANDS & MODELS

New arm covering standard for high school effective starting 2027-2028 season.