The National Federation of State High School Associations has received numerous calls
regarding the legality of older field hockey sticks that do not have the bow
measurement labeled on the stick. Some
sticks manufactured prior to the rule meet the 25mm bow requirement and do not
have a label attached; others do not meet the bow requirement and should not be
labeled.
Beginning this 2009 field
hockey season, all sticks that meet the 25 mm or below bow measurement must
have their bow measurement permanently labeled on the stick. If a stick does not have a label and meets
the bow requirement, then the owner should contact the dealership where they
bought the stick from and request that they provide or have the dealer contact
the stick’s manufacturer for the label that designates the correct bow
measurement. No other wording is necessary to make the stick compliant to NFHS
rules. No specific color of the bow
measurement label is required to make the stick compliant to NFHS rules. NFHS registered officials are trained to look
for the bow measurement label on the stick.
If it is present on the stick then it is presumed to be compliant with
NFHS rules. If it is not present on the
stick, then it is presumed not to be compliant with NFHS rules and will not be
allowed to be used in competition.