Helmet Safety: Standards & Research Overview
- windsorpoloclub
- Mar 15
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
What are the New APF Rules Effective 1st March 2026 ?
Polo helmets must always be worn during play and must be of a type approved to the standard :
· PAS015:2011 or updates
· VG1 01.040 2014-12 or UTAC/CRITT 04/2015
· EN1384:2017 or EN1384:2023.
· NOCSAE
· ASTM F1163-23
· SNELL E2021 & 2016
In addition to the Standard above helmets must bear at least one of these QC marks :
· BSI KITEMARK
· SEI
· SNELL
· INSPEC CERTIFIED
Any helmet which meets the above standards (to the satisfaction of the APF umpire) is permitted. It is not necessary to wear a “polo” helmet, a general equestrian helmet which meets the standards will do
Do other Equestrian Associations have stricter requirements than APF ?
Other equestrian bodies have stricter helmet standards than the APF, which is worth considering when purchasing a helmet :
· International Equestrian Federation (FEI) are transitioning by 2028 to :
1) Meet two or more of the following acceptable Standards :
§ PAS 015:2011
§ ASTM F1163:23
§ EN 1384:2023 (with CE Mark)
§ SNELL E2021 or E2016
2) Have the Quality Control mark
(Standards can test for different things and may have different pass thresholds – hence by requiring two standards to be met, FEI are requiring the helmet to meet a higher standard in each test component – meaning an overall higher performing helmet).
Virginia Tech has revealed the FEI has also proposed Standards should include Peak Rotational Acceleration (PRA) thresholds (as research shows this metric is a bigger factor in concussion, however no standard currently tests for it)
· U.S. Polo Association (USPA) will only accept helmets that meet NOCSAE 050 standard, which was a standard developed specifically for polo. It is also the only standard that also tests helmet mounted eye protection. There are only 4 helmets that meet this standard :
1) Armis Vera (being discontinued)
2) Charles Owen Sovereign (being discontinued)
3) Instinct Askari
4) Casablanca NEU
Any helmet that meets the FEI Standard or the USPA Standard meets the APF Standards and can be used for Polo in Australia. The reverse does not hold (ie there are APF approved helmets that are prohibited to play polo in in the U.S.A.)
Why Should Helmet Standards Matter to a Polo Player ?
In a sport defined by speed and contact, the risk of concussion or brain injury is an unfortunate reality of the game. When a player takes a hit or a fall, three critical factors determine the severity of the injury:
1. Linear Force (The Direct Impact)
This primarily causes focal injuries, such as bruising or contusions, at the specific point where the brain impacts the skull. This is measured as Peak Linear Acceleration (PLA).
2. Rotational Force (The "Shearing" Effect)
This is the culprit behind Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI). Because the brain is asymmetrical and composed of different densities (grey vs. white matter), rotation causes these layers to slide against each other at different speeds. This action shears the vital connections that allow the brain to function—a force much more likely to occur during a fall at a canter or gallop. This is measured as Peak Rotational Acceleration (PRA).
3. Duration
The longer the impact lasts, the more energy is transferred into the brain tissue. A longer duration gives the brain more time to deform and creates a "slosh" effect (coup-contrecoup) within the skull.
The Bottom Line: The primary purpose of a high-standard helmet is to minimize these three factors simultaneously.
The Modern Standard
Current research highlights that rotational acceleration is often a more significant contributor to concussions than linear force alone. To get the most accurate assessment of your risk, you have to look at the "big picture"—a composite approach that measures linear acceleration, rotational acceleration, and impact duration. This provides a far more sensitive and specific prediction of safety than any single measurement could.
What Do Helmet Standards Actually Measure ? (And What’s Missing?)
A Quality Control (QC) organization audits the manufacturing process to ensure the helmet hits the specific Standard it's aiming for. If it passes the test, it gets the stamp.
The "Baseline" Test
Generally, most standards put a helmet through its paces in four main areas:
Linear Impacts: Straight-line hits to see how the padding absorbs a direct blow.
Crush Resistance: Testing how the shell holds up under heavy pressure.
Retention: Ensuring the harness keeps the helmet securely in position during a fall.
Penetration: Testing if the shell can stop a sharp object (like a stray mallet or a post) from piercing through.
"Standards" Aren't Standardised
Not all stamps are created equal. Each standard uses a different set of criteria and "pass" thresholds. The tests can differ on factors such as : velocity of the impact, the type of surface (anvil) the helmet hits, the specific impact locations and the number of hits a single helmet must endure, the force used in crush tests, the mass and shape of the headform used in the lab, the temperature during testing
The Missing Links in Current Standards
It is vital to know that current standards have gaps:
Peak Rotational Acceleration: They currently do not test for the head knocks that cause the brain to rotate within the skull (the leading cause of concussion).
Duration: Only some standards test for how long the impact energy lasts.
Eye Protection: Currently, NOCSAE is the only standard that tests helmet-mounted eye protection.
Peaks and Eye Protection
The design of your peak matters more than you might think. Flexible or detachable peaks are widely considered safer because they don't "dig in" during a slide. Similarly, eye protection designed to fall away or detach if it catches a mallet is a major safety advantage. Interestingly, some research suggests that having a peak can actually reduce injury risk in specific impact scenarios.
Pro-Tips for the Tack Room
Check the Version: Standards are updated periodically. Just because a helmet meets a current standard doesn’t mean your version of the helmet you are holding in your hand meets it. It may be old stock. Hence please check the actual stamp that is on your individual helmet.
Pass vs. Score: A standard is a "Pass/Fail" system. It doesn’t tell you how well a helmet performed or if it barely scraped by—it only confirms that it met the minimum requirements to pass.
Beyond the Stamp: Understanding Independent Performance
While standard "QC stamps" tell you a helmet is legal, they don't tell you how it actually performs compared to its rivals. To find the best protection, we look to independent testing—the leader of which is currently the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.
The Virginia Tech (VT) Breakdown
Virginia Tech has published the actual data from rigorous testing on both Polo-specific and General Equestrian helmets.
Two Distinct Studies: VT recently completed one study focused exclusively on Polo helmets and another on General Equestrian helmets.
Note on Comparison: Because the parameters (such as impact speed) differed between the two studies, you cannot use the results across studies directly to compare helmets. You can however use the results within each study for comparing helmets and there are 2 helmets that do appear in both studies that gives an indication on where other helmets may fit relatively.
The Danger Zones: When a Hit Becomes a Concussion
Research suggests that a 50% risk of concussion occurs when impacts hit specific thresholds. In the world of polo, these are the numbers you want your helmet to stay well below. Different studies show different results, so there is no definitive answer to this, but the below values give an approximation based on various studies :
· PRA - 5,500 rad/s2
· PLA - 90g (measured in g-forces)
The "Time" Factor: Force vs. Duration
The danger isn't just how hard you hit, but how long that energy stays in your head. The brain's tolerance depends on the magnitude of the force:
Brief Hits (1–3ms): The brain can actually tolerate surprisingly high g-forces if the impact is over in the blink of an eye.
Longer Hits (10–15ms): Even a "lower" force (like 60g) can be far more damaging if it lasts longer, as it gives the brain more time to deform and "slosh."
The Rule of Thumb: The lower the value for PRA, PLA, and Duration, the higher the performance of your helmet.
Looking Ahead: The New FEI Standard
Virginia Tech has indicated that the FEI is looking to introduce a new, tougher testing standard. This "Oblique Impact Anvil" test involves a 2.2m drop height (6.56 m/s). Experts speculate that the pass/fail threshold for this high-intensity test will likely fall between 90g and 150g, raising the bar for the entire industry.
So What Does the Data Say About Different Helmets ?
Below is a sample of 8 helmets showing some key details plus a summary of the results collated from the VT studies. (Noting again that the two studies are not directly comparable)
From VT 2025 : Report: Polo Helmet Rotational Testing
These graphs show VTs test results for 10 different Polo helmets on :
i) Concussion risk (VT’s methodology)
ii) PRA
iii) PLA
Noting 3.46m/s is equivalent to a fall from a height of 0.6m and 5.46m/s equivalent to 1.5m
• For full paper :
From VT Tech 2025 paper Equestrian STAR: Development of an Experimental Methodology for Assessing the Biomechanical Performance of Equestrian Helmets
These graphs show VTs metrics for 45 different General Equestrian helmets (including at least 1 polo helmet) on :
i) PRA
ii) PLA
Both are measured using a Pendulum test & an Oblique anvil & at different speeds. (4.0m/s is equivalent to 0.8m, 6.3m/s to 2m and 6.56 m/s to 2.2m).
iii) STAR Score – this a metric developed by VT trying to capture an overall risk of concussion (lower is better)
The Oblique impact anvil test from 2.2m drop height (6.56 m/s) is the new Standard that VT has said FEI is looking to introduce. It is speculated the threshold for this test may fall somewhere in the 90g-150g range. The idea of this metric is it best represents what happens to your head when it hits the ground during a high speed fall.
For Full Paper :
For more information or if you would like to discuss Helmet Saftey Standards further please contact our Club Saftey Officer - Tim Berry timberryoffice@gmail.com
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