FOX 8 (New Orleans, LA)
July 26, 2024
“This season, Saints players will be allowed to wear Guardian caps, aimed at reducing concussions, not only during practice but also during regular-season games,” reports Lauren McCoy.
Megan Gatto goes on to say, “As Ashlyn Brothers reports, some high school football teams are following suit, Ashlyn.”
“Megan and Lauren, August means the return of the Friday night lights, and always at the forefront of long-time coach J.T. Curtis’s mind is safety, including how to avoid head injuries. This protective softshell with an outer layer of padding fits on top of football helmets and serves as a preventive measure for concussions, cultivating safe play.”
“This is an evolutionary process. This is the latest. What will happen next? Who knows,” said J.T. Curtis.
“Football coach J.T. Curtis at John Curtis Christian School says, ‘The design of helmets has changed tremendously over the last decade,’” said Ashlyn Brothers.
“All it was designed for was to give some cushion to deflect blows and disperse the impact so that the athlete would not take a direct blow to the brain,” said Curtis.
“He says Guardian caps came on the market about three years ago and weren’t well received at first. Curtis says, ‘Coaches and athletes were apprehensive about things like trapping heat and adding extra weight,’” said Brothers.
“The key to preventing neck injuries is to ensure the head stays in an upright position,” said Curtis.
“Senior strong safety Jason Curtis remembers the resistance,” said Brothers.
“When we implemented them last year, a lot of the guys were like, ‘Ugh, another thing,’” said Jason Curtis.
“But what many athletes are coming to realize is that the added layer is extremely light and allows for easy airflow,” said Brothers.
“We really have seen a difference and felt a difference throughout practice. It just feels better naturally to hit with an extra pad and an extra layer of protection,” said Jason.
“Coach Curtis put all his O-linemen in them last year and plans to include his running backs and defensive backs in them this year,” said Brothers.
“The ultimate goal is to put everyone in some type of protective device,” said J.T. Curtis.
“Football is a contact sport, and you’ve got to hit people, but anything you can do to prevent injury is huge,” says Jason Curtis.
“So far, the players only wear them in practice. When the NFL first introduced Guardian caps in 2022, the league said they could reduce the force from head contact by 10% if one player is wearing it and 20% if all players involved are wearing them,” said Brothers.
“We are continuously doing research, trying to find ways to improve helmets,” said J.T. Curtis.
Brothers goes on to say, “The Saints have been using them in practice the past couple of years, and for the first time this season, they will give their athletes the option to wear them during games. Coach Curtis, who has laid the groundwork for multiple D1 and NFL athletes over the years, says he will likely end up doing something similar, with the ultimate goal being to have ‘the best product on the field and to do it as safely as possible.’”
“Non-stop, our coaches are always teaching us, ‘Head up and chest up at all times, no matter what,’” said Jason Curtis.
“Now, Coach Curtis is focused on heat safety and teaching good technique, including stance, how to land, tackle, and block safely. He says, ‘You can’t overstate the importance of resting, eating, and hydrating properly,’” said Brothers.