Which states require flag football headgear?
As of November 5, 2026, we found a high school headgear requirement in 1 of 51 states and DC. Georgia (GHSA) requires Virginia Tech 5-star rated soft-shell headgear or protective headband starting with the fall 2026 season. Every other state shows "no rule found", which means we checked the association and found no statewide headgear rule. Your league can still require it.
See flag football headgear rules by state, with sources →
- AlabamaNo headgear rule found
- AlaskaNo headgear rule found
- ArizonaNo headgear rule found
- ArkansasNo headgear rule found
- CaliforniaNo headgear rule found
- ColoradoNo headgear rule found
- ConnecticutNo headgear rule found
- DelawareNo headgear rule found
- District of ColumbiaNo headgear rule found
- FloridaNo headgear rule found
- GeorgiaHeadgear required
- HawaiiNo headgear rule found
- IdahoNo headgear rule found
- IllinoisNo headgear rule found
- IndianaNo headgear rule found
- IowaNo headgear rule found
- KansasNo headgear rule found
- KentuckyNo headgear rule found
- LouisianaNo headgear rule found
- MaineNo headgear rule found
- MarylandNo headgear rule found
- MassachusettsNo headgear rule found
- MichiganNo headgear rule found
- MinnesotaNo headgear rule found
- MississippiNo headgear rule found
- MissouriNo headgear rule found
- MontanaNo headgear rule found
- NebraskaNo headgear rule found
- NevadaNo headgear rule found
- New HampshireNo headgear rule found
- New JerseyNo headgear rule found
- New MexicoNo headgear rule found
- New YorkNo headgear rule found
- North CarolinaNo headgear rule found
- North DakotaNo headgear rule found
- OhioNo headgear rule found
- OklahomaNo headgear rule found
- OregonNo headgear rule found
- PennsylvaniaNo headgear rule found
- Rhode IslandNo headgear rule found
- South CarolinaNo headgear rule found
- South DakotaNo headgear rule found
- TennesseeNo headgear rule found
- TexasNo headgear rule found
- UtahNo headgear rule found
- VermontNo headgear rule found
- VirginiaNo headgear rule found
- WashingtonNo headgear rule found
- West VirginiaNo headgear rule found
- WisconsinNo headgear rule found
- WyomingNo headgear rule found
How is flag football headgear rated?
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab tests soft-shell flag football headgear and gives each model 1 to 5 stars. More stars means the model reduced head acceleration more in the lab's impact tests. No rating means a product prevents concussions. We list 58 rated models, 26 of them at 5 stars.
Compare every rated model, sorted by stars →What should a league do about concussions?
Every state has a youth sports concussion law, and most follow the same pattern: remove a player on suspicion and return only with written clearance from a licensed health care provider. Our operator guide covers the youth flag football concussion protocol step by step, and the CDC HEADS UP youth sports training is free for coaches.
For league operators
Set your equipment list, decide on headgear with a named rating, and record each family's acknowledgment at registration before the season starts.
Read the flag football league safety checklist →For parents
What the injury research shows, when your child needs headgear, what to look for, and the questions to ask your league.
Is flag football safe? Read the parent's guide →