For those who solely watch soccer throughout the Tremendous Bowl then you definitely could be actually confused why some gamers are carrying outsized, oddly-shaped matte helmets in comparison with everybody else on the sector. These are Guardian Caps, security expertise launched to the NFL in 2023 — and whereas they nonetheless don’t have widespread use, increasingly more gamers are adopting the expertise.
The Guardian Cap contains of two traces of soft-shell pads, that are hooked up to the surface of a standard helmet after which lined with a neoprene sleeve so the group emblem remains to be seen. It’s an added layer of safety designed to reduce potential traumatic mind harm throughout violent hits, and is seeing larger use — significantly amongst receivers and defensive backs. This provides the looks of a participant carrying a lot bigger helmet than their friends when on the sector.
Whereas research present the Guardian Cap makes a big distinction in potential harm, a majority of gamers are but to undertake carrying the helmets full time. There stays some stigma behind the caps, or issues of how they’ll really feel to gamers who’ve turn into accustomed to carrying conventional helmets. The NFL has but to make using cap necessary in-game, nevertheless groups are required to have gamers put on Guardian Caps throughout follow, to reduce the danger of harm throughout the lead as much as video games.
Research have proven {that a} Guardian Cap will cut back 11-12% of pressure in a helmet-to-helmet hit, having a multiplicative impact — that means that if each gamers are carrying the cap it should cut back potential trauma by 22-24%. As well as, there’s proof that gamers carrying the caps have had a 52% discount within the likelihood of concussion in comparison with gamers who don’t put on the cap.
The problem proper now’s to get each participant within the league to put on the cap, which looks like the course of soccer. Whether or not or not gamers really feel “goofy” proper now, if everyone seems to be carrying the bigger type helmet it could be normalized — and something that may shield the way forward for gamers is price it.
