Guardian Caps on LI: Use is on the rise, but do they help?
Division football player Aiden Mirelis’ Guardian Cap, which he wears over his helmet for added protection. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara
If you're at a game this weekend, chances are you'll see several players wearing Guardian Caps, the soft-shell piece of padded protective headgear that fits over the traditional football helmet and weighs about 8 ounces.
The last two years have seen an increase in Long Island high school football players choosing to wear Guardian Caps not only in practice, but also in games. The use of the protective headgear comes while participation in high school football on Long Island has declined 30% the past 10 years, and experts attribute the drop in large part to the fear of head injuries and the long-term effects of concussions.
Guardian Caps are “engineered for impact reduction,” according to the Georgia-based company that makes them, but experts disagree on how effective they are at reducing head injuries and the risk of suffering a concussion. Still, players interviewed by Newsday said they feel safer wearing the extra padding.
Read more about the rising use of Guardian Caps in Long Island high school football here.
Gregg Sarra is Newsday's high school sports editor and has been on the beat since the mid-1980s.
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