Soccer Mouth Guard Rule Interpretation and Administration (ref. 75.1.5)

75.1.5    Mouth guards are required for all soccer players while on the field.

• All players shall wear a solid color (not clear) mouth guard that must cover all molars as well as front teeth.

• Mouth guards must be worn in all practices and competitions.

• Mouth guards are required of all participants at all levels of interscholastic competition (Freshman, Junior Varsity, Varsity), both boys and girls.

• Coaches shall assume the responsibility to make certain each player is wearing a mouth guard. 

• In the event a player is participating without a mouth guard, the game official shall remove the player from the match and cannot return until the next dead ball whistle.  The removed player may re-enter during a dead ball after reporting to an official who shall be satisfied the player's mouth guard is in place.  There will be no substitution for the removed player.

• If a player is found to (1) have cut down the mouth guard (2) hide the mouth guard in a part of the uniform (e.g. socks) or (3) discard the mouth guard on the field of play - A YELLOW CARD WILL BE ADMINISTERED.

SUMMARY RATIONALE:  Mouth guards are one of the most effective protective pieces of equipment we have to help prevent injury to the teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue and cushion the blows so as to decrease the chances of jaw fractures, TMJ injuries and concussions.

The American Dental Association estimates that mouth guards prevent approximately 20,000 injuries each year. An athlete is 60 times more likely to sustain damage to the teeth when not wearing a protective mouth guard. According to the National Institute of Dental Research 34% of high school basketball players suffer orofacial injuries. Soccer players are three times more likely to suffer dental injuries than football players are. Baseball players sustain facial injuries from mis-swung bats, fly balls and sliding collisions. In a 1989 study, among the women studied, basketball had the highest dental injury rate followed by soccer, field hockey, lacrosse, volleyball and softball.

The cost over a lifetime of dental care as a result of these injuries can total over tens of thousands of dollars per injury. Mouth guard use protects the health of athletes and maintains their natural simile.

The following organizations recommend the use of mouth guards for the above mentioned contact sports: National Association of Secondary School Principals, American Dental Association, Massachusetts Dental Association, Academy of Sports Dentistry, National Youth Sports Safety Foundation and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

The Massachusetts Dental Society in an effort to facilitate in the implementation of the MIAA soccer mouth guard standard has provided the Association a comprehensive list of dentists who will:

1. Distribute boil and bite mouth guards for a nominal fee; and
2. Fabricate custom mouth guards for a nominal fee.

Click here to find a dentist near you.

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