STEVENS COUNTY, Wash. — As high school football kicks-off for the year, local teams are exploring the use of additional safety equipment.
Guardian Caps, the padded caps that cover football helmets, are popping up in football teams across the country.
The NFL now requires them to be worn during practice.
They are also being used by some college teams, like the Cougars and the Eagles.
Guardian Caps said they reduce impact to a player’s head by 33% and the NFL said they have reduced concussions by 50% in the last two seasons.
The football team at Lakeside High School in Nine Mile Falls is using the caps for practice. The coach said it took perseverance to get the use of the caps approved, but that it was worth it.
“It is a great game that everyone should be playing. The lessons in it are huge and we will always encourage people to play, but while our kids are playing, we want to make it as safe as possible,” said Devin Bauwer, Lakeside Football Coach.
Bauwer said he was a fan of the caps ever since he learned about them.
“It’s really just another piece of practice equipment. If you think back to when helmets were leather, and how far we’ve come now… there’s always going to be innovation in our game that is going to help, and we want to be on the front of that,” he said.
For some parents, the use of the caps provides some reassurance.
“it is football, everybody is going to play rough, but I think it really helps out. It gives me a little sense of relief,” said Justin Howell, who has two children on the Lakeside football team.
Lakeside first purchased the caps five years ago, but had to stop using them after running into trouble with the helmet manufacturer who would not provide warranty over the helmets if the caps were used.
“With a little push back from our superintendent and the district, we have made the choice to wear the caps,” said Bauwer.
Spokane Public Schools said in a statement to 4 News Now that the caps are not currently used at SPS schools, because the district’s insurance provider doesn’t approve them. You can read SPS’ full statement below.
Ridgeline High School just recently received approval from the Central Valley School District to use the caps.
“While we do allow interested CVSD student athletes to utilize this add-on piece of equipment, it remains optional,” said Grady Emmerson Assistant Principal for Athletics and Activities at Ridgeline High School.
Mead School District said the caps are not currently provided, but that some players do choose to wear their own during practice.
For Coach Bauwer, it is an easy decision to use the Guardian Caps.
“It’s a tough spot and there is just one right decision, it is the right thing to do, we got to put them on,” he said.
SPS statement: “Adding the cap to the helmet would make it noncompliant with the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSEA). Using helmets that are not NOCSAE certified exposes the district to liability in the event of an accident.”
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