LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — Preventing concussions is one of the most serious issues to hit high school sports in years. And one Jackson County school likes what it’s seeing from a product designed to reduce football related concussions.
The coaches at Lee’s Summit North High School say they want to take any steps they can to give players a chance for extra protection. The school has been adding gear called the Guardian Cap to standard helmets during practices for a few years now. And while Lee’s Summit North admits it doesn’t track concussions to know the real impact, the Guardian Cap is getting positive reviews from them.
Coaches like Lee’s Summit North’s Ty Kohl realize impact is part of the game, and football without hard hits just wouldn’t look the same.
Three years ago, the Broncos introduced Guardian Caps to their practice plans. These thick helmet covers act as shock absorbers, providing an extra layer of head protection for players.
Kohl first learned of the Guardian Caps three summers ago at a coach’s convention. Since then he’s bought 20 of them. He says they’ve helped reduce the number of concussions his players are seeing in practice.
“That’s one of the things we focused on. We want to keep our kids safe. I would say about 50 percent less concussions in the last three or four years,” he said.
High school governing bodies in both Kansas and Missouri have not sanctioned them for use in games because they’re not approved by makers of the original helmet. Lee’s Summit North players say they’ve seen the number of player head injuries drop.
“A lot of the hits that I was taking, I could feel them bounce off, even if I was on the ground. If I was on the ground, I could feel my head bounce back up,” said Broncos Defensive End Michael Shaw.
“It helps absorb the contact. It doesn’t go straight to the helmet. It’s a lot less pressure on your head when you get hit,” said Broncos Line Backer Chase Overton.
Last august Kearney High School also introduced guardian caps for practices. Jacque Banks, a spokesperson with Kearney Public Schools says players feel they’re practicing more safely since their introduction.
