Kids' ski kit: what the laws, standards and bodies say about children.

Start with lessons, not a shop

We suggest children start through lessons with a qualified instructor, who will also deal with sizing and fit in person; this guide describes neither, and recommends no school, resort, club or shop. PSIA's Alpine Certification Standards (updated September 2026) tie its Level 1 to teaching beginner and novice guests, and the instructor routes in each country are on how people learn. The codes of conduct for the slope published by FIS and the NSAA are on the codes of conduct.

Helmet laws for children, as published

Whether a child must wear a helmet depends on where the slope is. A legal requirement is not evidence that a helmet prevents injury, and penalty amounts are left out.

In the United States, the NSAA reports that about 96 percent of US children aged 17 and under wore helmets in 2023/24, against under half in 2002, and that near-universal use among children aged 9 and under was reached without state or local mandates. Health Canada's helmet assessment notes that children are generally less likely than adults to recognise how severe impact injuries can be. The full table, with each source, is on youth helmet rules.

Children in the equipment standards

• Helmets: EN 1077:2007 names children among the users of its classes A and B. The standards and labels are in the helmet guide.
• Boots: ISO 5355:2019 covers alpine boots in Mondopoint sizes from 15.0 as type A for adults and type C for children (scope from the ISO catalogue entry seen in search results).
• Bindings: ISO 9462:2023 sets out the main characteristics of alpine bindings for children, juniors and adults. Bindings are set by a binding technician; this site gives no release values, charts or setting steps.

If a child races

Youth racing rules belong to each discipline and body. In FIS alpine competition (specifications 2026/27), helmets are compulsory at all events; FIS recommends that children under 12 use only one pair of skis in all events if the skis are shorter than 130 cm (3.1.2.2.1); boot soles are capped at 43 mm for U14 and U16, with U12 recommended to match (1.2.1); and FIS recommends correctly sized back protectors certified to EN 1621-2 for children under 12, U14 and U16 (3.5.1). The U14 and U16 ski-length columns of the FIS table could not be read reliably and are not given. In ski mountaineering, a separate sport under the ISMF, athletes U18 and younger may not use full-carbon boots (Rules and Guidelines 2025-26, 31.1). Youth helmet rules of national federations for club racing were not found.

Injuries in children, from one study

A season-long study at Blackcomb Mountain, British Columbia (November 1991 to May 1992; Macnab and Cadman, Injury Prevention, 1996) found children aged 7 to 12 had 3.18 and teenagers aged 13 to 17 had 3.34 significant injuries per 1,000 skier days, the highest of any group. Head and face injuries were 17 percent of children's injuries and 22 percent of teenagers'. Youths on school-organised outings had a 25 percent higher incidence than on other outings. These figures belong to that one study, place and season and are not a current rate. Any injury needs medical care.

Concussion rules for young people differ by body

• U.S. Ski & Snowboard (Concussion Policy for Members, 2018-19 form): an athlete under 18 suspected of a concussion is removed from any of its events and may not return until cleared in writing by a qualified health care provider. A search excerpt of its current policy page, which could not be opened, reports benching at any age with a membership hold only for minors; the two versions differ.
• GB Snowsport (protocols of about 2021): at least 29 days for under-19s, against ten days for adults, before full training and competition after a suspected concussion or an unassessed fall or impact.
• UK grassroots sport (UK Concussion Guidelines for Non-Elite Sport, updated 6 November 2024): "If in doubt, sit them out".

A suspected concussion needs assessment by a qualified medical professional. The rules of each body are on concussion by body, and FIS's safeguarding policy (Snow Safe Policy, Edition 2018) is on safeguarding.

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