Athletic Training Practice Exam

Which of the following is not an NCAA mandated piece of equipment?

1. Wrestling—eye guards

2. Men's lacrosse—protective gloves

3. Baseball—double ear flap helmet for batting

4. Gymnastics—palm protection for the uneven parallel bars

The correct answer is: Gymnastics—palm protection for the uneven parallel bars

The correct answer highlights that palm protection for the uneven parallel bars in gymnastics is not mandated by the NCAA. The NCAA does provide regulations on various pieces of equipment for specific sports to ensure player safety and fair competition, but it does not specifically require gymnasts to use palm protection on the uneven parallel bars. In contrast, certain equipment like eye guards for wrestling, protective gloves for men's lacrosse, and double ear flap helmets for baseball batting are explicitly mandated to promote athlete safety during gameplay. For example, eye guards in wrestling are crucial in preventing eye injuries, and protective gloves in lacrosse provide necessary hand and finger safety during a contact sport. Similarly, the double ear flap helmet ensures that baseball players are protected while batting. Therefore, because the NCAA has set specific requirements for safety gear in these other sports but has not done so for palm protection in gymnastics, this makes the option regarding gymnastics the one that is not mandated.