New technology protecting kids who play football
Desert Mirage High School football players practice for the big game wearing new head gear. It’s not a fashion statement, it’s called a Guardian Cap.
It’s a padded cover that goes on top of the helmet helping protect these players during practice.
“You have four days of practice a week and you have one day where you play a game. So especially, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays there is a lot of collisions, a lot more than in a game,” said Eric Perry, head coach of the Rams.
It’s that wear and tear throughout the week that could lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.
“With the concerns about CTE and concussions now I think that you owe it to your kids to make as many things available to protect them as possible,” Perry said.
Concussions are a real problem. According to the CDC, nationally about a quarter million kids are treated in emergency rooms for sports related concussions each year.
Last week Palm Springs player Leonel Munguia had to be taken off the field after a nasty hit.
Players do feel a real difference with the helmet covers.
“It feels softer and basically safer less of a hit,” said Leon Tizoc, a freshman at Desert Mirage.
These covers are CIF certified and can be worn during the game, although Desert Mirage players so far choose not to, but that could change overtime.
At Twentynine Palms High School, players have helmets equipped with the InSite system which measures impact in real time.
“It goes to a hand held device and then the hand held device is plugged into a computer, and then the computer downloads all the information we need. On the practice field and in the game field it will trigger an alert if there is a big impact,” said Jeremy Johnson, assistant coach of the Wildcats.
Should all student athletes who play football be required to wear padded helmet covers? Leave a comment down below or tell KESQ & CBS Local 2 reporter Joe Galli on Facebook or Twitter.
