Which sports make a mouthguard compulsory?
Gaelic football, lacrosse and roller derby require one at every level, combat sports require one to compete, and ice hockey requires a custom-made one for players 20 and under who don't wear a full face mask.
GAA rule 4.3 makes a mouth guard mandatory in every Gaelic football game and practice session. Australasia Gaelic Games repeats it in rule 4.6, excusing only a player advised "in writing, not to do so by a qualified Doctor or Dentist".
World Lacrosse requires one in men's, women's, sixes and box lacrosse, goalkeepers included, and Lacrosse Australia's national championships play under its rules. WFTDA's roller derby rules list the mouthguard with the helmet and pads, and a skater may take it out only while seated in the penalty box.
Every boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, MMA, taekwondo and karate kumite rule book in the table requires a guard in competition.
The IBJJF, judo's IJF and United World Wrestling don't mention mouthguards. ACT law requires one at BJJ competitions, though IBJJF rules don't. The ACT's Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2024 requires a guard at controlled-sports events, judo included, unless face protection covers the mouth or the contest rules prohibit one.
Ice hockey names the type. Since 1 March 2022, Ice Hockey Australia regulation 5.1.2 has required players in the 20 and under age categories who don't wear a full face mask to wear "a custom made mouth guard".
Do rugby, AFL, hockey and soccer require a mouthguard?
No national body in those codes requires one. The NRL, Rugby Australia, World Rugby, the AFL and the FIH recommend one. Hockey Australia's championship rules require shin guards and face masks but no mouthguard, and the national and international soccer, touch, basketball, netball and cricket rules we read require none.
Under the NSW Department of Education's October 2026 guidelines, NSW public schools require one in matches and contact training in rugby league, rugby union and AFL, and in hockey training and competition, indoor included. Queensland state schools require one, with a medical declaration, for high-risk activities in nine sports, including both rugby codes, AFL and hockey. Victorian government schools require one in both rugby codes.
Competitions that require one include the Hockey NSW State Championships, North Area and Sydney Metro junior hockey, SANFL Juniors in games, and Basketball WA's WABL (under 12 to under 21) and State Championships.
A club writing its own "no mouthguard, no play" rule goes further than its code. Cite the code's recommendation as the reason, and for school teams, link the school system's guideline, which is the rule that binds them.
Mouthguard rules by sport
Each row quotes one body's rule, with the governing body first in each sport, then school sport, then competitions. An ellipsis marks words we cut. "Not mentioned" means we read the whole document and found no mouthguard rule, and "Compulsory (contact)" covers contact training and matches.
| Who sets it | Mouthguard | What the rule says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rugby league | |||
| NRL, all levels in Australia | Recommended | "The NRL supports and strongly recommends the use of mouthguards by all players participating in Rugby League during contact training and games. The custom-fitted mouthguard is the recommended and ideal form…" | NRL Mouthguard Policy P012, s3.0 (2019) |
| NSWRL community competitions | Not mentioned | "Protective equipment may be worn provided it contains nothing of a rigid nature." Section 10.2 links the NRL policy. | NSWRL Community Rugby League Policies & Procedures Manual, s4.26 (4 May 2026) |
| QRL | Not mentioned | No mouthguard rule in QRL Rules Parts 1 to 5 or the 2026 Statewide Competitions Operations Manual. | QRL rules and policies (2025 to 2026) |
| NSW public schools | Compulsory (contact) | "A correctly fitted mouthguard is mandatory and must be worn during all training sessions involving contact, including tackling, and during matches." Modified rugby league needs none. | NSW Department of Education, rugby league guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| Victorian government schools | Compulsory | "All players must wear mouth guards." | Physical and Sport Education – Safety policy, rugby protective equipment (10 Apr 2026) |
| NSW Catholic secondary selections (NSWCCC) | Compulsory | "Mouth guard is compulsory" | CSNSW Sport Portal, rugby league (2026) |
| Rugby union | |||
| World Rugby, all levels | Recommended | "World Rugby recommends all players wear a mouthguard or dental protector." | Laws of the Game, Law 4.2 (current online text) |
| Rugby Australia, juniors and youth | Recommended | "Not mandatory under national law, but Rugby Australia strongly recommends all contact players wear a properly fitted mouthguard. Some competitions make them compulsory." | Junior and Youth Laws, club volunteers (current, for 2027) |
| NSW public schools | Compulsory (contact) | "A correctly fitted mouthguard is mandatory and must be worn during all training sessions involving contact, including tackling, and all intra- and interschool competitions." Modified rugby needs none. | NSW Department of Education, rugby guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| NSW primary schools (NSWPSSA) | Compulsory | "Mouthguards must be worn in the following circumstances: all selection trials and games organised for Rugby Union by the schools, school's sporting zone, association and/or state sporting association." | NSWPSSA Handbook 5.11a.17 (2024) |
| Victorian government schools | Compulsory | "All players must wear mouth guards." | Physical and Sport Education – Safety policy, rugby protective equipment (10 Apr 2026) |
| NSW Catholic secondary selections (NSWCCC) | Compulsory | "Mouth guard is compulsory" | CSNSW Sport Portal, rugby (2026) |
| Sydney Junior Rugby Union, U10 to U18 | Recommended | "It is recommended that a mouthguard be worn at all times whilst playing, including warmups and training." | SJRU XVs Competition Playing Rules 2025 v1.1, 5.12(B) |
| Brisbane Junior Rugby Union | Recommended | "It is highly recommended that a mouthguard should be worn at all times whilst playing, during warm-ups and during training." | 2026 BJRU Competition Rules, 9.9(b) (Apr 2026) |
| World Rugby, elite competitions using the in-game HIA | Compulsory (smart guard) | "Elite rugby players will be required to wear smart mouthguards to be able to use the in game HIA1 test. The mouthguards will be required in training as well as matches…" | World Rugby media release (9 Oct 2023, from Jan 2024) |
| AFL | |||
| community football, all levels | Recommended | "Mouthguards… are strongly recommended at all levels of football. Mouthguards should be worn for all Matches and contact training sessions… Custom made mouthguards… should be used by all Players." | National Community Football Policy Handbook 2026, Part D s16.5 (Feb 2026) |
| NSW public schools | Compulsory (contact) | "A correctly fitted mouthguard is mandatory and must be worn during all training sessions involving contact, including tackling, and during matches." | NSW Department of Education, Australian football guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| AFL Sydney Juniors | Recommended | "Sections 16.1 to 16.5 of the Policy Handbook applies." | AFL Sydney Juniors 2026 Rules v1.3, 15.3.4 (16 Mar 2026) |
| Yarra Junior Football League (Vic) | Permitted | "Players are permitted to wear appropriate helmets, mouth guards and shin guards." | YJFL By-Laws 2026, 10.6 (Mar 2026) |
| SANFL Juniors (SA) | Compulsory (games) | "A Mouthguard must be worn by all Players in games." | SANFL Juniors Competition Rules & Regulations 2026 v2, 8.16.1.1 (Mar 2026) |
| Gaelic football | |||
| GAA, binding on overseas units | Compulsory | "In all Football Games and Football Practice Sessions it shall be mandatory for, and the responsibility of, each individual player to use a mouth guard." | GAA Official Guide Part 2, rule 4.3 (27 Mar 2026) and GAA Mouthguard Information, FAQ 12 (Jul 2023) |
| Australasia Gaelic Games | Compulsory | "In men's and women's football all players must wear a mouth guard while playing in all Games and practice Sessions, unless advised otherwise, in writing, not to do so by a qualified Doctor or Dentist." | AGG Playing Rules 2024, rule 4.6 |
| Soccer | |||
| IFAB Laws, applied by Football Australia | Not mentioned | Compulsory kit is shirt, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear. "Non-dangerous protective equipment, for example gloves, headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted" | Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 4.2 and 4.4 |
| NSW public schools | Permitted | "Additional personal safety equipment commonly used in football, such as correctly fitted mouthguards… may be worn during training and games, provided it does not pose a risk to other players." | NSW Department of Education, football guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| Touch | |||
| Touch Football Australia | Not mentioned | Rule 4, on the playing uniform, has no mouthguard wording. | TFA 8th Edition Rules, Rule 4 (2020) |
| Oztag | |||
| Australian Oztag | Recommended | "Mouth guards are highly recommended." | 2025 Official Rulebook, s3 |
| Hockey | |||
| FIH | Recommended | Field players "are strongly recommended to wear shin, ankle and mouth protection" | Rules of Hockey 2027, 4.2 (internationally from 1 Nov 2026) |
| Hockey Australia national championships | Not mentioned | Field players must "wear shin guards…" and "wear face masks when defending penalty corners". No mouthguard rule. | Tournament Regulations, Attachment C1, 5.2.6 (2026) |
| NSW public schools | Compulsory | "A correctly fitted mouthguard is mandatory and must be worn during organised training sessions and intra- and interschool competition, including the indoor forms of the game." Modified hockey, the only form up to age 10, needs none. | NSW Department of Education, hockey guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| NSW high school state competitions (NSWCHSSA) | Compulsory | "All players must wear approved shin protectors/guards and mouth guards." | NSWCHSSA Handbook 4.13, 4.13.1(m)(ii) (2026) |
| WA primary interschool (School Sport WA) | Compulsory | "No mouthguard – no play!" | School Sport WA, primary interschool hockey, competition rules (2026) |
| Hockey Victoria competitions | Recommended | "(b) are recommended to wear shin, ankle and mouth protection." | 2026 Competition Regulations, 4.5(b) (Mar 2026) |
| Sydney Hockey, senior men | Recommended | "All field players are recommended to wear shin, ankle and mouth protection…" | Competition Rules 2026 Winter, 4.3 (9 Mar 2026) |
| Hockey NSW State Championships, open and underage grades | Compulsory | "Field players must wear, at all times during a match in which they participate, shin pads and mouth guards." | State Championships Operations Manual, 3.6.6 (Apr 2026) |
| North Area Junior Hockey (Sydney) | Compulsory | "All players must wear a mouthguard and shin guards whenever they are on the field" | By-Laws, 5.1 (May 2026) |
| Sydney Metro junior competitions, U14A and U16A | Compulsory | "Clubs are required to ensure that their players wear mouthguards and shin pads unless the Metro Committee allows otherwise." | U14A & U16A Metro Rules, rule 14 (Mar 2026) |
| Ice hockey | |||
| Ice Hockey Australia, all players | Recommended (custom-made) | "It is recommended that all players wear a custom made mouth guard." | National Sport Regulations, 5.1.1 (Aug 2023) |
| Ice Hockey Australia, 20 and under without a full face mask | Compulsory (custom-made) | "Effective 01st March 2022 all players in age categories 20 & Under and not wearing a full face mask, shall wear a custom made mouth guard." | National Sport Regulations, 5.1.2 (Aug 2023) |
| Lacrosse | |||
| World Lacrosse, women's field | Compulsory | "All players, including the goalkeeper, must correctly wear a professionally manufactured intra-oral mouthguard that covers all teeth of the upper jaw." | Women's Field Rules 2025-26 v1.1, 6.A.5 (Jan 2025) |
| World Lacrosse, men's field | Compulsory | "All Players, including the Designated Goalkeeper, must properly wear an intra-oral tooth and mouth protector…" | Men's Field Rules 2025-27 v1.1, 17.1 (Jan 2026) |
| World Lacrosse, sixes | Compulsory | "All Players, including the Goalkeeper, must properly wear an intra-oral tooth and mouth protector…" | Sixes Rule Book 2026-28 v2, 2.4.2 (May 2026) |
| World Lacrosse, box | Compulsory | "The mouth guard must be worn at all times during a live ball." | Box Rule Book 2026-28 v2, 2.5.5 (May 2026) |
| Lacrosse Australia national championships | Compulsory | "Current WL Rules subject to any LA Variations…" | Championship By-Laws, 3.3 (26 Sep 2025) |
| Water polo | |||
| World Aquatics, Water Polo Australia, Water Polo NSW | Not mentioned | No mouthguard rule in the competition regulations, national technical rules or state competition rules. | WPA National Technical Rules 2026-27 (Sep 2026) and WPNSW Competition Rules (Oct 2026) |
| NSW public schools | Recommended | "Correctly fitted mouth guards are recommended during both training and competition." | NSW Department of Education, water polo guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| Basketball | |||
| FIBA, all games under FIBA rules | Colour or type rule only | Permitted equipment includes a "Non-coloured transparent mouth guard." | Official Basketball Rules 2026 v1.1, 4.4.2 (from 1 Oct 2026) |
| Basketball NSW, all its events and competitions | Colour or type rule only | "The rules regarding Other Equipment (see 4.4 Other Equipment of the FIBA Official Basketball Rules) shall remain and apply to all events and competitions conducted by Basketball NSW." | Domestic Permitted Other Equipment Policy POLAD 014, 3 (Feb 2021) |
| NSW public schools | Permitted | "…such as correctly fitted mouthguards, ankle guards or strapping tape, may be worn during training and games, provided it does not pose a risk to other players." | NSW Department of Education, basketball guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| Basketball NSW Waratah Junior League | Recommended | "BNSW highly recommends that all participants use a mouthguard." | 2027 Waratah Junior League Rules of Operation, 5 (Sep 2026) |
| Basketball WA, WABL Under 12 to Under 21 | Compulsory | "It is compulsory for players in the Under 12 to Under 21 age groups (inclusive) to wear a mouthguard during WABL competition games." | WABL Rules of Operation v2.0, 11.1 (2026) |
| Basketball WA State Championships/Titles | Compulsory | "All players must wear a mouthguard to participate in the State Championships/Titles." | State Championships/Titles Rules of Operation, 13 (Oct 2026) |
| Netball | |||
| World Netball, Netball Australia, Netball NSW | Not mentioned | Rule 3.12 bans piercings and dangerous adornment and says nothing on mouthguards. The national junior guidelines and the NSW junior state titles rules say nothing either. | Rules of Netball 2024, 3.12 and National Junior Netball Guidelines (Mar 2026) |
| NSW public schools | Permitted | "…such as correctly fitted mouthguards, ankle guards or strapping tape, may be worn during training and games, provided it does not pose a risk to other players." | NSW Department of Education, netball guidelines, personal safety (Oct 2026) |
| Cricket, baseball and softball | |||
| Cricket Australia, WBSC, Baseball NSW | Not mentioned | Cricket Australia mandates helmets for "all CA, state and pathway players in CA managed competitions" and sets no mouthguard rule. Softball permits "an approved plastic face mask/guard". | Cricket Australia helmet recommendations, WBSC Softball Fast Pitch Rules 2026-2029, 2.4.3 (Dec 2025) and Baseball NSW 2025 rules |
| Roller derby | |||
| WFTDA | Compulsory | "Skaters must wear helmet, mouthguard, wrist guards, elbow pads, and knee pads…" A skater may take it out only while seated in the penalty box. | Rules of Flat Track Roller Derby, protective gear and 4.4.4 (1 Jan 2025) |
| Skate Victoria | Compulsory | "Helmet, mouth guard, wrist guards, elbow pads and knee pads must be worn… Skaters will not be covered if they are not wearing Safety Equipment." | Roller Derby Membership Bylaw V38 (Aug 2026) |
| Skateboarding and BMX | |||
| World Skate, AusCycling | Not mentioned | World Skate sets helmet rules only. AusCycling's "fixed non-detachable mouthpiece" (3.03.02) is the full-face helmet's chin bar. | World Skate Street & Park Competition Rules (Apr 2025) and AusCycling BMX Racing Technical Regulations 2026 |
| Boxing | |||
| World Boxing, amateur and Olympic | Compulsory | "13.7.1. All Boxers must wear a Gumshield of any colour during the Bout." | World Boxing Competition Rules v5.0, 13.7 (Mar 2026) |
| Boxing Australia, national and state amateur | Compulsory | "12.1. As per World Boxing Rules under rule 13." | Boxing Australia Competition Rules, 12.1 (amended 5 May 2025) |
| ANBF, professional | Compulsory | "(e) A properly-fitted moulded mouthguard, unless the ringside doctor directs otherwise." | ANBF Rules and Regulations, 17(1)(e) (1 Mar 2026) |
| Kickboxing | |||
| WAKO | Compulsory | "Using tooth protection is mandatory for all fighting disciplines, in all age categories." | WAKO Equipment Book Rev 7, 1.3.3 (12 Sep 2026) |
| Muay Thai | |||
| IFMA | Compulsory | "A gum shield… shall be worn by all Athletes before the commencement of a round." | IFMA Rules & Regulations v3.057, 15.5 (11 May 2026) |
| Muaythai Australia | Compulsory | "6.10. Form fitted gum shields must be worn during the contest." | MTA Rules & Regulations, 6.10 (Feb 2024) |
| MMA | |||
| Unified Rules | Compulsory | "All fighters are required to wear a mouthpiece during competition. The round cannot begin without the mouthpiece." | Unified Rules of MMA, rule 4 (amended 5 Aug 2026) |
| Taekwondo | |||
| AusTKD, endorsed events | Compulsory | "All Black Belts must wear a groin guard…, hand gloves, and clear or white mouth guard." Coloured belts wear the same. | National Endorsed Event Minimum Standards, 4 (Jul 2024) |
| Karate | |||
| WKF kumite | Compulsory | "2.2.7 The following protective equipment is compulsory: … b) Gum shield." National federations may not change these rules (17.1). | WKF Kumite Competition Rules 2026 v13 (from 1 Jan 2026) |
| Karate Australia competitions | Compulsory | "Mouth guard (All Competitors)" | Compulsory safety equipment, on Karate NSW's site (undated) |
| BJJ, judo and wrestling | |||
| IBJJF, IJF, United World Wrestling | Not mentioned | No mouthguard rule. | IBJJF Rules Book v6.1 (Jun 2024), IJF Sport and Organisation Rules (14 Aug 2026) and International Wrestling Rules (Jan 2026) |
| Martial arts | |||
| NSW public schools | Compulsory (contact) | "Correctly fitted mouthguards must be worn where contact may occur." | NSW Department of Education, martial arts guidelines (Oct 2026) |
| Combat sport | |||
| ACT controlled-sports events | Compulsory | "Mouthguards must be worn by all contestants where the mouth is not protected by any other type of face protection or prohibited by contest rules" | Controlled Sports Code of Practice 2024 (No 1), cl 76(a) and cl 111 |
| NSW regulated contests | Defers to sport | A combatant must not wear protective equipment "that does not comply with… the rules for the class of combatant and style of combat sport to be contested." | Combat Sports Regulation 2014, cl 39 (repeal due 1 Sep 2027), read from a cached copy of 25 Jul 2026 because the live site blocked us |
| School sport | |||
| Queensland state schools, nine sports including rugby league, rugby union, AFL, hockey, water polo and martial arts | Compulsory (high risk) | "Mouthguards and a medical declaration are required for activities when there is a high risk of mouth injury." Wording varies by sport, and hockey keepers: "Mouthguards are not required when wearing face masks." | CARA activity guidelines (2026): rugby league, rugby union, AFL, hockey, water polo and martial arts |
| Victorian government schools, other contact sports | Recommended | "Principals and teachers must advise parents and students of the benefits of mouthguards and take reasonable steps to ensure that students wear them when involved in physical activities, particularly when competing in contact sports such as football (all codes), basketball, hockey, lacrosse, martial arts." | Physical and Sport Education – Safety policy, mouthguards (10 Apr 2026) |
| SA public schools, School Sport SA included | Recommended | "…the wearing of mouthguards is strongly encouraged particularly when competing in contact sports such as, but not limited to, Australian rules football, soccer, basketball, hockey, martial arts and lacrosse." | Sporting and adventure activities standard (Jul 2024) |
Colour and type rules
Basketball, taekwondo, Muay Thai and IBA boxing limit the colour, and Victoria and WA require a fitted guard for combat sport.
| Sport | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball, FIBA games and every Basketball NSW event | Clear only: "Non-coloured transparent mouth guard." | FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026, 4.4.2 |
| Taekwondo, World Taekwondo | White or clear: "Color: limited to 'WHITE' or 'TRANSPARENT' only. It is mandatory to always wear mouthguard. There is no exception." | WT Mouthguard, Taping and Bracing rules (2020, Taekwondo Canada's copy) |
| Taekwondo, AusTKD | Clear or white: "clear or white mouth guard" | National Endorsed Event Minimum Standards, 4 (Jul 2024) |
| Muay Thai, IFMA | Form-fitted, not red or pink: "The gum shield should be form-fitted and not of the colour red or pink." | IFMA Rules & Regulations v3.057, 15.5 |
| Muay Thai, Muaythai Australia | Juniors: "Mouth guard required for all divisions – must not be red or pink." Muaythai Australia's adult mouthguard rule (6.10) names no colour. | MTA Rules & Regulations, junior padding requirements (Feb 2024) |
| Boxing, IBA | No red: "No red or partially red-coloured gumshield may be worn." | IBA Technical & Competition Rules, 49.5.2 (15 Apr 2026) |
| Boxing, World Boxing and Boxing Australia | Any colour, form-fitted: "13.7.1. All Boxers must wear a Gumshield of any colour during the Bout. 13.7.2. The gumshield should be form-fitted." | World Boxing Competition Rules v5.0, 13.7, adopted by Boxing Australia rule 12.1 |
| Boxing, ANBF professional | Moulded, and two for title fights: "(f) A boxer engaged in an ANBF Australian Title or an Australasian Title will be required to have 2 Mouthguards" | ANBF Rules and Regulations, 17(1)(e) and (f) |
| Kickboxing, WAKO | Any colour: "Mouth-guards can be of any colour." | WAKO Equipment Book Rev 7, 1.3.3 |
| Lacrosse, women's field | Any colour: "The mouthguard may be of any color, including white or colorless (clear)." | World Lacrosse Women's Field Rules 2025-26, 6.A.5.a |
| Lacrosse, men's field | Visible colour recommended: "It is recommended that the mouth guard be highly visible in color: i.e., neither white nor clear." | World Lacrosse Men's Field Rules 2025-27, 17.1 |
| Ice hockey, Ice Hockey Australia | Custom-made: recommended for every player (5.1.1), required for players 20 and under without a full face mask (5.1.2). | National Sport Regulations (Aug 2023) |
| Combat sport, Victoria: professional boxing, K1, Muay Thai, MMA and amateur MMA | "At all times during a bout, a contestant must wear a mouth piece as fitted by a dentist or an advanced dental technician." | Rules for the Conduct of Professional Boxing Contests in Victoria (Sep 2025), and the K1, Muay Thai and MMA rules |
| Combat sport, WA: boxing, kickboxing, MMA and Muay Thai | "(a) A Contestant shall wear a professionally fitted mouthguard during a contest. (b) The Contestant's mouthguard shall be examined by the Referee prior to the contest and at the start of each round." | WA Combat Sports Commission contest rules, r9 (MMA r10) (2019 to 2020) |
In boxing, Boxing Australia's rules (12.1) follow World Boxing, which allows any colour, and the IBA bans red. The NSW Office of Sport's list of approved combat-sport rules still names both Boxing Australia's 2015 regulations, which banned red, and the IBA's 2023 rules.
Lacrosse SA's 2021 variations still ban white and clear guards in women's lacrosse, and Lacrosse Victoria still tells players that national tournaments do. World Lacrosse's current rules allow both.
Victoria's rules ask for a guard fitted by "a dentist or an advanced dental technician", the state's title for a dental prosthetist before July 2000. Only Victoria's Professional Boxing and Combat Sports Board can say which guards meet its rule.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
These rule documents changed between January 2025 and November 2026, newest first:
- 1 Nov 2026: the FIH's 2027 Rules of Hockey make mouth protection "strongly recommended" internationally, up from "recommended". We haven't found a Hockey Australia start date.
- Oct 2026: the NSW Department of Education replaced its sport safety page with a guideline for each sport. The mandates stand, but the "Sport and Physical Activity in Schools Safe Conduct Guidelines" wording Cronulla PSSA still quotes no longer exists.
- 12 Sep 2026: WAKO's Equipment Book reached revision 7, wording unchanged.
- 27 Aug 2026: NSW released a draft Combat Sports Regulation 2026 for consultation. The 2014 Regulation stays in force until its repeal, now due on 1 Sep 2027.
- Mar 2026: World Boxing's Competition Rules reached version 5.0, still allowing any colour.
- Jan 2025: World Lacrosse's 2025-26 women's field rules allow any colour, white and clear included.
How we checked
We read each rule in the governing body's own document, fetched on 4 November 2026, and the source column names any copy we used instead. We recheck every row each January, before winter registrations, and the NSW school, FIBA and FIH rules whenever a new edition comes out.
For a competition not in the table, ask the association for its current by-laws and search them for "mouth" and "gum": boxing rules say gumshield, and Victoria's say mouth piece.
