The National Collegiate Athletic Association establishes rules to govern all aspects of collegiate sports, from the Division I powerhouses to the smaller schools of Division III football. Even Division III schools must adhere to the NCAA's guidelines when it comes to proper onfield attire. The NCAA's Division III football uniform rules serve to not only protect the safety of players but also to assist with officiating and to allow a pleasant viewing experience for fans.
Jersey Numbers
All Division III football players must wear a jersey number ranging from 1 to 99. Rules prohibit a zero preceding any number, meaning players wear no. 9 and not no. 09. Players may not change numbers during a game. The NCAA also strongly suggests all centers wear numbers between 50 and 59, all guards wear numbers 60 to 69, all tackles wear numbers 70 to 79, all wide receivers wear numbers 80 to 99 and all backfield players, including quarterbacks, running backs and defensive backs, wear numbers 1 to 49. The set numbers allow officials to immediately identify player positions when making calls involving formation eligibility.
Uniform Colors
Players on the same team must wear jerseys of the same color and design. The opposing team must wear contrasting colors. In general, the home team wears colored jerseys, while the road team wears white jerseys. If agreed to in writing beforehand, teams may deviate from the standard road-white color scheme. Jerseys and uniforms may not feature any other markings than the institutions logo, the approved manufacturer's logo, the player's name, the player's number, the American flag or other league-approved memorial patch.
Mandatory Equipment
NCAA Division III football players must wear certain mandatory pieces of equipment as part of their uniforms to ensure adequate safety. All players, without exception, must wear a helmet, mouthpiece, knee pads, thigh guards, hip pads with tailbone protection, shoulder pads and jerseys with clearly visible numbers.
Helmets
All player helmets must have a protective facemask and a secure 4-point or 6-point chin strap. Chin straps must be secured before each play. Players may wear protective eye shields, but the shields may not be tinted or comprised of any materials not molded or rigid in nature.
Illegal Equipment
The NCCA prohibits Division III football players from wearing any equipment that may endanger other players. Hard, abrasive or unyielding substances like casts and knee braces are only allowed if covered in substantial foam padding not less than 1/2-inch thick. Shoe cleats may not be made of metal or possess any cutting or abrasive edges. Rules also prohibit players from wearing any adhesive substances to assist with ball control or any colored jerseys or equipment designed to hide the ball.
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