September 28, 2024
Half Hollow Hills West senior Salvatore Santoro was excited about the start of football practice in August — and to receive his equipment: helmet, shoulder pads and other assorted pieces of protective gear.
But there was something unusual in his assortment this year: a puffy, soft-shell covering that looked like a hat.
“I was like, ‘What is this?’ ” said Santoro, a lineman who plays offense and defense.
Like hundreds of other football players across Long Island in recent weeks, Santoro was introduced to the Guardian Cap, the latest protectant in football’s long fight to reduce the risk of concussions and to mitigate the long-term effects of head injuries and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.
CTE is a degenerative disease affecting people who have suffered repeated concussions or hits to the head.
“We had them on for camp, and so far I think they help a lot,” Santoro said. “They protect you more. I definitely feel safer.”