This specification covers performance requirements for headgear used in soccer which are intended to reduce the forces reaching the impact area of the head. However, this specification does not address any injury that may rise from any type of impact that may occur during the play of soccer as the tests covered by this specification are laboratory simulation tests only and do not attempt in any way to recreate actual situations. Materials covered by this specification are test headforms consisting of Hybrid III adult male head and neck assembly and three types of anvils: steel post, headform, and molecular elastomer programmer (MEP). The headgear shall be conditioned in ambient, low temperature, high temperature, and water immersion conditions prior to shock attenuation impact and multiple impact tests. The tests shall involve three types of impact: head to forehead, head to goal post, and head to MEP impacts, and shall conform to the requirements specified.

1.1 This specification defines performance requirements for headgear used for participation in the sport of soccer. The technical requirements in this specification do not address the administrative requirements of soccer governing bodies, so it should not be assumed that any headgear satisfying this specification will be acceptable for use in sanctioned soccer events.

1.2 This specification is intended to reduce the forces from external physical sources reaching the defined impact area of the head in impacts that may occur in the sport of soccer. No headgear can provide protection against all impacts, foreseeable or not. This specification does not address the potential for injury from any type of impact. The tests specified in this specification are laboratory simulation tests only, and do not purport to create situations identical to the impacts that may occur during the playing of soccer.

1.3 All testing and requirements of this specification shall be in accordance with Test Methods F1446, except where noted herein. In the event of a discrepancy between the requirements of this specification and those of Test Methods F1446, this specification shall prevail.

1.4 Partial utilization of this specification is prohibited. Any statement of compliance with this specification shall be a certification that the headgear meets all of the requirements of this specification in its entirety. Headgear that fails to meet any one of the requirements of this specification is considered to have failed the specification and should not be sold with any indication that it meets parts of the specification.

1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.