football bicep bands

[Ed Hickland]

There appears to be some confusion over bicep bands and sweatbands. A bicep band is an elastic band that fits around the bicep (that's why it is called a bicep band.) Some states have chosen to declare them illegal.

Some officials confuse a bicep band with a sweatband. A sweatband is a cotton/elastic band ranging in size from 1/2 inch to 3 inches. By rule, they are legal if worn up to 3 inches above the wrist. You see many NFL players wearing these often with the color to match the uniform usually just above the elbow which is illegal in NFHS.

Usually if a player is found wearing illegal equipment you tell them to take it off as it does not have a material affect on the game so why penalize it. The exception is when players are found without a tailbone protector which is exceptionally dangerous and could create a liability for us as officials.