Virginia Tech Flag Football Headgear Ratings, Explained
Virginia Tech now rates 58 flag football headgear models, 26 at 5 stars. How the lab tests them, what the stars mean, and what they do not tell you.
By Flag50 TeamPublished
Carlsbad, Calif.: The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab rated 58 flag football headgear models as of November 2026, up from 12 in its first ratings in 2019. Twenty-six hold 5 stars, the level Georgia now requires for high school play.
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab has become the reference point for flag football headgear. Its flag football ratings listed 58 models when we checked on November 5, 2026, and Georgia's high school association now requires a 5-star model for every player. Here is what the ratings measure and how to read them.
From 12 models to 58
Virginia Tech released its first flag football headgear ratings on July 1, 2019. It tested 12 models and gave 5 stars to 2. The list now holds 58 models, 12 of them added in 2026. Our count from the lab's published data:
| Stars | Models |
|---|---|
| 5 | 26 |
| 4 | 10 |
| 3 | 9 |
| 2 | 13 |
The ratings page shows no update date, so counts can change without notice. We recheck it when we update our headgear ratings table.
How the lab tests headgear
Each model takes 36 impacts: at the front, side and back of the head, at low, medium and high energy. The lab measures linear and rotational acceleration on each hit and converts the results into a single concussion-risk number from 0 to 1, where 1 is the same as wearing nothing. Lower is better. Fixed cutoffs on that number set the star band. The full method is in the lab's published test protocol.
What the stars do not tell you
- They compare flag headgear only. A flag football score cannot be compared with a football helmet score.
- They do not mean a player cannot get a concussion. No headgear prevents concussions.
- They do not measure fit. A model that slips or sits high will not perform the way it did in the lab.
- Versions matter. Several products were rated more than once, in different years. Check that the version you buy is the one rated.
The lab's own advice is to pick any 4 or 5-star model, then choose on cost, fit, coverage and comfort rather than small score differences.
Why 5 stars now matters in Georgia
The GHSA requires a Virginia Tech 5-star rating for girls high school flag football, starting fall 2026, and states that 4 stars does not qualify. Families in Georgia high school programs should shop from the 26 models at 5 stars. Everyone else can follow the lab's 4 or 5-star advice and their league's rule. See which states have a rule on our headgear rules by state page.
Frequently asked questions
How many flag football headgear models has Virginia Tech rated?
58, as of our check of the lab's published data on November 5, 2026. Twenty-six hold 5 stars, 10 hold 4 stars, 9 hold 3 stars and 13 hold 2 stars. The first ratings, in July 2019, covered 12 models.
What is a STAR value in Virginia Tech flag football ratings?
It is the lab's concussion-risk number for a model across 36 lab impacts, on a scale from 0 to 1, where 1 matches wearing no headgear. Lower values earn more stars. The value applies only to the tested impacts and only within flag football headgear.
Can a headband earn 5 stars from Virginia Tech?
Yes. The lab rates headband style and cap style headgear on the same scale, and both styles appear among the 5-star models. Coverage differs: a headband leaves the crown open, so check whether your league or state rule sets a coverage requirement.