Are Mouthguards Required? Mouthguard Rules by Sport (2026)
Are mouthguards required in your sport? It depends on the sport, your level and which rulebook your league or event follows. Football, ice hockey, lacrosse and field hockey require one at U.S. high school and college level. Basketball, soccer and rugby mostly recommend one. Wrestling requires one only if you wear braces. Most combat-sport federations require one, and the big BJJ rulebooks don't mention them at all. This page sums up what our sport-by-sport rules articles found, with a link to the full article for each sport.
Rules change every season, and states, leagues, clubs and promoters can add their own. Use this as a starting point, then always check your current rulebook, event fact sheet or coach before you compete.
Mouthguard rules by sport: summary table
| Sport | Required or recommended? | Notable rule | Our pick | Full rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Football | Required under NFHS (high school) and NCAA (college) rules | NFHS has allowed completely clear or white guards since 2016. NCAA: readily visible color, not white or transparent, covering all upper teeth. | NanoBite | Football mouthguard rules |
| Ice hockey | Required under NFHS and NCAA rules; USA Hockey Rule 304(f) requires one from 12 & under through 18 & under (including high school) and Girls' 19 & under | USA Hockey: a colored (non-clear) internal mouthpiece covering the remaining teeth of one jaw. A dentist-fitted mouthpiece is strongly recommended in all classifications. | NanoBite | Hockey mouthguard rules |
| Lacrosse | Required under NFHS and NCAA rules | 2026 NFHS / USA Lacrosse boys: no color restrictions (white and clear allowed), but decorative or non-protective attachments are prohibited. | NanoBite | Lacrosse mouthguard rules |
| Field hockey | Required under NFHS; NCAA requires all field players to wear one at all times (goalkeepers: strongly recommended) | NFHS Rule 1-6-1 (2026): protective use only, no non-functional or unsafe attachments. NCAA: not wearing one is misconduct. | NanoBite | Field hockey mouthguard rules |
| Basketball | Recommended, not required nationally (NFHS Rule 3-5-8 recommends one; NCAA allows one but does not mandate it). State associations may require one. | 2026–27 NFHS point of emphasis: if worn, custom-fitted or molded, with no decorative or non-protective attachments. | NanoBite | Basketball mouthguard rules |
| Rugby | Recommended under World Rugby Law 4; unions, schools and clubs may require one | USA Rugby's gear guidelines say every player should wear one every time they play contact rugby, with no pieces extending outside the mouth. | NanoBite | Rugby mouthguard rules |
| Soccer | Not compulsory under IFAB Law 4; NFHS Rule 4-2-7 says it is not required. Leagues and clubs may require one. | 2026–27 NFHS Rule 4-2-7d,e: if worn, it should only protect the teeth or mouth. | NanoBite | Soccer mouthguard rules |
| Wrestling | Required under NFHS Rule 4-2-6 only for wrestlers with braces or orthodontic devices | The guard must cover the teeth and all areas of the braces, upper and lower if both have braces. Ear guards are required for everyone (Rule 4-1-4). | NanoBite | Wrestling mouthguard rules |
| BJJ / grappling | Not required by IBJJF (Rule Book v6.1 doesn't mention mouthguards) or ADCC 2026 rules; NAGA lists a mouthpiece as minimum gear in gi and no-gi | UWW grappling uniform regulations: "The use of mouthguard is allowed." IBJJF bans hard-material protectors and headgear. | NanoBite | BJJ mouthguard rules |
| Boxing | Required: USA Boxing Rule 39.1 ("A Mouthpiece must be worn by boxers"); mandated in pro boxing too | Any color under the 2026 rulebook. Losing it to a clean punch is a caution (third time: mandatory warning); spitting it out on purpose is a mandatory warning. | Origin or Origin Pro | Boxing mouthguard rules |
| MMA | Required under the ABC Unified Rules of MMA | The round cannot begin without the mouthpiece. Points may be deducted if the referee feels it was purposefully spit out. | Origin or Origin Pro | MMA mouthguard rules |
| Muay Thai | Required under IFMA (section 15.5) and WBC Muaythai rules | IFMA: form-fitted and not red or pink. Intentionally expelling or removing it is a foul. | Origin or Origin Pro | Muay Thai mouthguard rules |
| Kickboxing | Required under WAKO for all fighting disciplines and age categories; ISKA and GLORY also require one | WAKO: any colour. Spitting it out voluntarily is a warning the first time and a minus point the second. Braces need a WAKO Dental Brace Certificate. | Origin or Origin Pro | Kickboxing mouthguard rules |
| Karate | Required: WKF Kumite Rules Article 2.2.7 list a gum shield as compulsory | WKF referee materials: an athlete found without a gum shield after the bout starts is disqualified. | Origin or Origin Pro | Karate and taekwondo mouthguard rules |
| Taekwondo | Required under World Taekwondo (WT) and USA Taekwondo rules | White or transparent only (USA Taekwondo: clear or white). WT's mouthguard sheet sets at least 4 mm at the front and 2 mm on the biting surface. | Origin or Origin Pro | Karate and taekwondo mouthguard rules |
Team sports: where mouthguards are required
For U.S. high school sports, the NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee's mouthguard position statement (October 2022) lists the sports where the NFHS mandates mouthguards: football, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, and wrestling for athletes wearing braces. The American Dental Association (ADA) summarizes the same NFHS and NCAA mandates for football, field and ice hockey and lacrosse.
Color rules are where athletes get caught out. NFHS football allows clear or white guards, but NCAA football does not. USA Hockey requires a colored, non-clear mouthpiece for its youth and high school ages. 2026 NFHS boys lacrosse dropped its color restrictions. Several codes now ban decorative or non-protective attachments, including 2026 boys lacrosse, NFHS field hockey and the 2026–27 NFHS basketball point of emphasis.
Basketball, soccer and rugby are not on the NFHS mandate list, and their national rules recommend or permit a mouthguard rather than require one. The ADA still lists basketball, soccer and rugby among the contact and collision sports where it recommends a properly fitted mouthguard, and many clubs, schools and unions make one compulsory. It also lists volleyball among the limited-contact sports where it recommends one; see our volleyball mouthguard guide. Sport guides: football, hockey and lacrosse, lacrosse, field hockey, basketball, rugby and soccer.
For every team sport above, our pick is NanoBite, our thinnest guard at 4 mm and the best of our models for breathing and talking. Where a non-clear rule applies (USA Hockey, NCAA football), choose a colored guard. Whatever your rulebook says, it helps to know what to do if a tooth is knocked out.
Combat sports: required almost everywhere
Striking sports are the clearest. USA Boxing, the ABC Unified Rules of MMA, IFMA Muay Thai, WAKO kickboxing, WKF karate and World Taekwondo all require a mouthguard in competition, and the ADA notes that boxing is the only professional sport where mouthguards are mandated. What differs is color and what happens when the guard comes out: USA Boxing and WAKO allow any color, IFMA bans red and pink, and World Taekwondo allows only white or transparent. Spitting a guard out on purpose draws a warning, foul or point deduction in boxing, MMA, Muay Thai and kickboxing.
For boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, karate and taekwondo, choose Origin or Origin Pro. Both are 5 mm combat guards. Origin Pro adds more breathability and a High Impact 6mm option. Sport guides: boxing, MMA and BJJ, Muay Thai, kickboxing and karate and taekwondo.
Grappling: wrestling and BJJ
Grappling rules are the loosest. NFHS high school wrestling requires a mouthguard only for wrestlers with braces, though ear guards are required for everyone. In BJJ, the IBJJF Rule Book and the 2026 ADCC rules don't mention mouthguards, so wearing one is your choice, while NAGA lists a mouthpiece as minimum gear in both gi and no-gi. The ADA lists wrestling, martial arts and combat sports among the activities where it recommends a mouthguard.
For wrestling and BJJ, our pick is NanoBite, so you can breathe and talk through long matches and rolls. If you also train MMA or striking, use Origin or Origin Pro for those sessions. See our wrestling mouthguards and BJJ mouthguards.
Mouthguard rules with braces
Braces add rules in several sports. NFHS wrestling requires a guard that covers the braces. USA Boxing requires a Release to Compete with Braces form attached to your passbook. WAKO requires a Dental Brace Certificate, plus upper and lower guards if you have lower braces. WKF requires Referee and Tournament Doctor approval for metallic braces, and WT and USA Taekwondo call for a guard that covers the braces.
Athletes with braces can get AlienGuards. Do not use our at-home impression kit over braces, because it can damage them. Have your dentist take an impression or 3D scan, then ship it to us or email it to impressions@alienguards.com. More in mouthguards for orthodontic patients.
Team and gym orders
Coaches, gym owners and team leaders can get every athlete covered with one order. Team and gym orders get 20% off all mouthguards and merch, with a minimum order of 5 mouthguards. Every guard carries your team logo plus athlete names or numbers, and on-site fitting help is available (minimum order and location apply). Start with team & gym orders or read custom mouthguards for gyms and teams.
Not sure which model fits your sport? See how to choose a mouthguard for your sport, mouthguards for contact sports and how thick should a mouthguard be?
Mouthguard rules by sport FAQ
Which sports require a mouthguard?
Under NFHS and NCAA rules, football, ice hockey, lacrosse and field hockey require one, and NFHS wrestling requires one for athletes with braces. Most combat-sport bodies require one too, including USA Boxing, the ABC Unified Rules of MMA, IFMA Muay Thai, WAKO kickboxing, WKF karate and World Taekwondo.
Are mouthguards required in basketball, soccer and rugby?
Not under their national rules. NFHS basketball Rule 3-5-8 recommends one, IFAB Law 4 and NFHS soccer Rule 4-2-7 don't require one, and World Rugby Law 4 recommends one. State associations, leagues, clubs and unions can still make one compulsory, so check your handbook.
Can you wear a clear mouthguard?
It depends on the rulebook. NFHS football and 2026 NFHS boys lacrosse allow clear, and World Taekwondo allows only white or transparent. NCAA football bans white or transparent, USA Hockey requires a colored, non-clear mouthpiece for its youth and high school ages, and IFMA Muay Thai bans red and pink. USA Boxing and WAKO allow any color.
Can athletes with braces get AlienGuards?
Yes. Have your dentist take the impression or 3D scan instead of using our at-home kit, then ship it to us or email it to impressions@alienguards.com. Some sports also need paperwork or extra coverage over braces, such as the USA Boxing braces release or the WAKO Dental Brace Certificate.
Which AlienGuard is best for my sport?
NanoBite, our thinnest 4 mm guard, for football, hockey, lacrosse, basketball, rugby, soccer, field hockey, wrestling and BJJ. Origin or Origin Pro, both 5 mm combat guards, for boxing, MMA, Muay Thai, kickboxing, karate and taekwondo.