The guidelines below are intended as a quick reference for parents and youth fighters. For more details, please review the armor requirements in the Kingdom Youth Combat Policies.
Division 1 (ages 6-9)
Helmet: street hockey helmets, hockey helmets, and baseball catcher’s masks if the bars are close enough together, fencing masks with full head protection and medieval-style metal helms are acceptable. Grills or metal mesh with opening no more than 1.5 inches must cover the face. Helmets must have a chinstrap or a back strap to hold the helm on securely. The weight of the helmet in relation to the age and size of the participant should be such as to prevent neck sprain. Helmets must cover the cervical vertebrae; most hockey and lacrosse helmets need to have a piece of heavy leather, plastic, or equivalent attached at the back to cover the upper portion of the spine.
Neck: Minimum of light leather or ½ inch closed cell foam is required to cover the neck, larynx and cervical vertebra. This item is called a “gorget.” Close cell foam padding under the leather is recommended. The minimum protection for the cervical vertebra is a flap of medium leather attached to the back of the helm.
Body: must have the torso, shoulders, and armpits covered with a minimum of cloth. Tunics, shirts, or bodices, and pants, shorts, or skirts are acceptable
Elbow joint: must be covered by a layer of cloth. Elbow joint protection is recommended.
Hands: Gloves that offer minimal padding, like garden gloves, are required. Hockey gloves with rigid thumb are recommended.
Groin: Testicles must be protected to a standard equivalent to that provided by an athletic cup, secured by straps, or worn in a supporter or fighting garment designed to hold the protection in place. A padded skirt, closed-cell foam, heavy leather, or athletic pelvic cup is recommended to cover the pubis bone area.
Knees: Knee joint must be covered by a layer of cloth. Knee joint protection is recommended
Feet: Sturdy shoes are required. No open-toed shoes or sandals.
Divisions 2 and 3 (ages 10-17)
Helmet: street hockey helmets, hockey helmets, baseball catcher’s masks, fencing masks with full head protection and medieval-style metal helms are acceptable. Grills or metal mesh with openings no more than 1.5 inches must cover the face. Helmets must have a chinstrap or a back strap to hold the helm on securely. The back of the head and top of the neck must also be covered by a minimum of a flap of heavy leather attached to the base of the helm.
Neck: minimum of medium (8 to 10 oz.) leather is required to cover the neck, larynx and cervical vertebra. This item is called a “gorget.” Close cell foam padding under the leather is recommended.
Body: must be covered by medium weight shirt, tunic, bodice, etc. Kidney, sternum and xiphoid protection made of rigid material is required. Shoulder protection is recommended but not required.
Elbow joint: minimum of hard leather, metal, or plastic over soft (closed cell foam) protection.
Hands: Hockey gloves with rigid thumb or full gauntlets (plastic or metal) are required unless hands are covered by basket hilts. Hands in a basket hilt shall have a minimum of a lightweight glove and half gauntlet. The use of basket hilts is strongly encouraged.
Groin: Testicles must be protected to a standard equivalent to that provided by an athletic cup, secured by straps, or worn in a supporter or fighting garment designed to hold the protection in place. A padded skirt, closed-cell foam, heavy leather, or athletic pelvic cup is recommended to cover the pubis bone area.
Knees: A minimum of hard leather, metal, or plastic over soft (closed cell foam) knee joint protection is required.
Feet: Sturdy shoes are required. No open-toed shoes or sandals.
Updated December 9, 2025