Section 2: Equipment
Rule 1, Section 2, Article 1 specifies the ball as an ellipsoid spheroid of four panels of pebble-grained leather in natural tan color with eight equally spaced lacings, inflated to 12.5–13.5 psi (0.85–0.95 bar). The regular (men's/mixed) ball measures 11.00–11.50 inches long and weighs 14–15 ounces; Rule 1-2-2 requires youth-size balls for women's games and games with players under 16, and junior-size balls for players under 13 (youth and junior balls need not be leather).
Rule 1-3-1 (Mandatory Equipment) requires: (a) full-length jerseys of the same team color, cut and style, tucked into the pants, with contrasting Arabic numerals at least 6 inches tall on the back, unique per player from 0–99; (b) shorts or pants of a single matching color, cut and style, without pockets, studs or clips; and (c) tightly fixed flag belts with pop-away sockets and two identical flags, one on each side of the waist, hanging freely and fully visible in a color contrasting with the pants. Rule 1-3-2 sets flag dimensions at 15–16 inches long and 1.8–2.0 inches wide, with a minimum tear resistance of 300 Newtons at the socket attachment.
Rule 1-3-1(d) addresses intra-oral mouthpieces — if worn, they must be a visible non-white color — and states that "the use of a mouthpiece is strongly recommended," stopping short of making it mandatory equipment. Rule 1-3-3 (Illegal Equipment) prohibits shoulder pads, helmets or any head covering (caps, hoods, bandannas, headbands), cleats longer than 0.5 inch or sharpened/metallic cleats, sharp-edged knee braces or other dangerous protectors, glasses or frames made of breakable material, exposed jewelry, and any electronic or mechanical device used to communicate with a coach. Rule 1-3-4 requires each team to certify to the Referee before the game that its roster has the mandatory equipment and has been briefed on what constitutes illegal equipment.