Does Football Helmet "Fashion" Put Players at Risk of Injury?
Stylish helmets are emerging on the football field, showing off a variety
of color combinations in several alternatives that declare team spirit,
but now the NCAA is questioning whether or not this new fashion trend
is sacrificing the safety of the players who wear them.
To address this potential problem, studies will be conducted to investigate if the helmets might lead to more concussions and serious head and neck injuries in football players. If they are a danger, the NCAA would like to further formulate an approach to rectify it. While having cool, buzz-worthy aesthetics is a major element, if the helmets are not protecting players, then those players are being failed.
Even teams that stick with traditional looks occasionally have alternative helmets, while other teams have as many as 5 helmets for players, all of which serve the goal of ultimately generating interest in the program. Why is the NCAA concerned about football players having too many helmets? The problem primarily relates to the fit of the helmet, which can vary depending on the manufacturer and style. However, according to Dr. Stefan Duma, a professor of engineering at Virginia Tech who has done extensive research on the matter, he does not believe multiple helmets pose a safety hazard to players.
Duma argues that schools that can afford to purchase so many helmets also generally have a lot of staff to help adjust the fit of the helmets.
With the technology of football helmets moving forward, it is likely schools might return to a one-helmet approach. Soon, manufacturers will be able to do a 3-D model of a player’s head, along with all the bumps and indents, customizing it perfectly for each player’s unique head shape. Since these helmets would not come cheap, having only one per player would be the only feasible way to acquire them. For now, the competition committee is still pondering the multi-helmet question.
Sports Injury Attorneys
At Shrader & Associates L.L.P., our sports injury attorneys are committed to protecting the legal claims of former or current NCAA athletes who have suffered concussions or concussion like symptoms. These injuries can be extremely serious and, when one suffers multiple concussions, this can severely increase the risk of long-term brain damage.
Get started on your case and contact our national trial lawyers today at (877) 958-7920 to schedule a free consultation.