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All high school football helmets must meet the standards of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, abbreviated as the NOCSAE. Every approved helmet has a certification sticker affixed, stating that the helmet has met the minimum requirements needed to reduce the chances of injury. Every year, an estimated ten percent of high-school football players will suffer a concussion at some point during the season. Even more alarming, over a third of those players will garner more than one. Because studies have recently begun showing a correlation between concussions and long-term health issues, there can be no higher priority than protecting the safety of the players. Just as with any other product, there is a wide disparity in quality between different models and manufacturers of high school football helmets. Here are some of the innovative features that can be found on some of the highest-safety-rated models. If you are a coach or parent, these are definitely the safeguards you want for the entire football team. Anti-Concussion Technology Traditional helmets had foam inserts to reduce impact, but their one-size-pad-fits-all approach put their protection rating at the low end of the scale. State-of-the-art football helmets have inflatable padding with multiple air valves located in separate areas at the crown, side, neck, and back of the liner. This allows for a completely customized fit to the size and shape of each player’s head. One top model, developed by an Ex-Harvard player as a specific means to prevent concussions, uses shock absorbers to deflect both the linear and rotation forces created in an impact. Another model was studied for three years by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and was found to reduce the incidence of concussions by thirty-one percent. Even computer technology is finding its way into the safety discussion. One model comes equipped with sensors that can detect the intensity of each impact and sent the data to computers on the sideline. Focus on the Faceguard In the event of a serious player injury, medical personnel and team trainers may have need to have access to the player’s face or airway. However, removal of the helmet could be of itself dangerous in the case of a neck or head injury. Several manufacturers have taken this into account. One model has a facemask that removes at the touch of a button. Another model has a facemask that can be quickly removed by attendants with the quarter turn of a wrench. While lower-end helmets use steel in the construction of their faceguards, the safest models may use titanium, which is far stronger and better protects against facial injuries. Before your team takes the field, make sure to perform due diligence and do the research. While no piece of equipment can totally eliminate every injury, you owe it to your players to provide them with the best protection possible. For more information about high school football helmets, please visit our website.
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