Company Profile
NOCSAE
Company Overview
NOCSAE, (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) is a 501 (c)(3) tax -exempt non-profit corporation with its home office in Overland Park, KS. NOCSAE is also an ANSI accredited Standards Developer.
In addition to developing and maintaining equipment standards, NOCSAE is a primary source for research funding in the area of sports medicine and safety, sport injury epidemiology, and scientific advancement of athlete safety monitoring and data collection Since 1995 through a program managed by it's Research Director, NOCSAE has funded and managed over $13 million dollars in NIH style research grants and contracts.
Company History
NOCSAE was originally formed in 1968 in response to a need for a performance test standard for football helmets. Fatalities from head injuries in organized football had climbed to more than 30 per year. The NCAA, NFHS, Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association (now SFIA), the American College Health Association, The National Athletic Trainers Association, and the Junior College Athletic Association met in Kansas City In 1968 to formalize the committee. After several years of research and development, the NOCSAE Football Helmet Performance Standard was published. New helmet models were first tested to this standard in 1974. The first baseball batting helmet standard was published in 1981, and helmet models were tested to this standard beginning in 1983. The baseball helmet standard has since been designated as the baseball/softball batting helmet standard. In 1986 a performance test standard was published for lacrosse helmets and face guards, and in 1987, a standard for football face guards was released.
Today, NOCSAE has 49 performance and test standards for a wide range of sports and continues to investigate other athletic equipment to determine the feasibility or necessity of establishing additional standards. NOCSAE standards are constantly being updated to reflect the latest science, technology and medicine. The use of equipment that meets NOCSAE standards is mandated by nearly every major sport governing body, including the NCAA, NFHS, NFL, USA Baseball, and USA Lacrosse.
In addition to developing and maintaining equipment standards, NOCSAE is a primary source for research funding in the area of sports medicine and safety, sport injury epidemiology, and scientific advancement of athlete safety monitoring and data collection Since 1995, NOCSAE has funded and managed over $13 million dollars in NIH style research grants and contracts. In addition to these formal grants, NOCSAE has contracted annually for technical development and research with ANSI and A2LA accredited testing laboratories, as managed by the NOCSAE Technical Director.