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Catcher's helmet guide: hockey style vs two-piece, fit and labels

By the Life in Good Form editors. Updated 2026-10-15.

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Fit checklist

From the CDC HEADS UP Catcher's Helmet Safety fact sheet.

Hockey style vs two-piece

Catchers can wear a one-piece helmet with an attached faceguard, often called hockey style, or a two-piece setup with a separate skull cap helmet and face mask. The CDC says that for the two-piece style, the helmet and the face mask should each have their own certification label showing compliance with NOCSAE standards. On a two-piece setup, you can tighten or loosen the straps on the sides and top of the mask to adjust how tightly it grips the helmet.

NOCSAE's standards list includes ND024, its standard for catcher's helmets with faceguard. Whichever style you choose, check for the label on every piece rather than assuming the mask and helmet are certified together.

Why catchers need their own helmet

The CDC says catchers use a special helmet and need equipment other players do not. NOCSAE keeps separate standards for the two: ND022 for newly manufactured batter's helmets and ND024 for catcher's helmets with faceguard, so a batting helmet label does not cover catching. The CPSC notes that team sport helmets are designed to protect against the multiple head impacts typical of the sport, such as ball impacts and player contact, and can generally keep being used after such impacts. It says to follow the manufacturer's recommendations for replacement or reconditioning.

Sizing before you buy

• Bring the catcher to check fit in person, as the CDC suggests.
• Measure with a soft tape just above the eyebrows and ears, level front to back; a string and ruler work too.
• Use the brand's chart. Sizes vary from brand to brand.
• Ask how it feels. Snug, but too tight can cause headaches.
• Hairstyle. Try it with the hairstyle worn for practices and games.

Labels to look for

The CDC says to look for a catcher's helmet with labels that:

• say it meets the NOCSAE standard; newer helmets may say SEI certified and meets the NOCSAE standard
• state whether it can be recertified, or when its certification expires
• specify how often it must be reconditioned and recertified
• show the date of manufacture

If the helmet is not new, also look for a label showing the date it was reconditioned and recertified. The CPSC's helmet table lists NOCSAE ND022, ND024 and ND029 for baseball, softball and T-ball batter, catcher and fielder helmets.

Other catcher's gear

The CDC notes catchers need equipment other players do not, such as throat, chest and stomach protectors. NOCSAE lists ND200, a standard for protectors evaluated for commotio cordis, which covers chest protectors. When shopping for a chest protector, check its label for that NOCSAE standard and compare torso length to the maker's size chart.

For batting, see our batting helmet guide, and for fielding, our baseball glove guide.

Care, reconditioning and replacement

• Bent masks. Replace face masks immediately if they are bent.
• Inspect for missing or loose parts or padding before and during the season; never use a cracked or broken helmet.
• Follow the label on when to replace. Some helmets say they should not be reconditioned and list how long they can be used, though wear may mean replacing sooner.
• Reconditioning means an expert inspects, repairs, sanitizes, tests and recertifies the helmet to NOCSAE standards. Do not let a catcher wear a used helmet that has not recently been recertified.
• Clean with warm water and mild detergent; no soaking, high heat or strong cleaners. Store out of the car and direct sun, and do not sit or lean on it.

What to look for when you buy

Questions people ask

How should a catcher's helmet fit?

Like a backwards baseball cap: snug all around, nothing underneath, mask resting flat on the front.

Do both pieces of a two-piece catcher's helmet need labels?

Yes. The CDC says the helmet and face mask should each have their own NOCSAE certification label.

Can a catcher wear a cap under the helmet?

No. The CDC says nothing should be worn under a catcher's helmet, including a baseball hat.

When should I replace a catcher's mask?

Immediately if it is bent, and follow the helmet's label on replacement timing.

What standard covers catcher's helmets?

NOCSAE ND024 covers catcher's helmets with faceguard.

Can a catcher use a batting helmet with a face guard?

Use a helmet made and labeled for catchers; the CDC says catchers use a special helmet, and NOCSAE has a separate catcher standard, ND024.

Sources

• Get a Heads Up on Catcher's Helmet Safety (fact sheet) (cdc.gov), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Which Helmet for Which Activity? (cpsc.gov), U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• NOCSAE Standards (nocsae.org), National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment

Sources checked 2026-10-15.