Guardian cap debuts this NFL season

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From Friday night lights to Sunday afternoons and everywhere in between, football is on televisions across the country once again this fall.
But this season in the National Football League, you might notice a difference in the helmets some players sport during games.
For the first time in the NFL regular season, players can wear a soft-shell covering on helmets. Called a Guardian Cap, the protective covering slips over a player’s hard helmet.
After years of testing, the NFL recommended Guardian Caps in 2020 to team physicians, head athletic trainers, and equipment managers. Since 2022, the NFL has mandated that players wear Guardian Caps in practices with contact during the preseason, regular season, and playoffs.
At the high school and college levels, football produces more head injuries than any other sport. The covering’s maker says its product reduces injuries on the field. According to NFL research, the cap absorbs at least 10% of the force of a hit.
Other independent researchers remain skeptical about whether the covering reduces the force a player experiences. Seven players from the NFL have sported the new helmets this season and they are in use in some college football programs in the U.S.
For parents trying to prepare their kids for youth football, experts recommend choosing a good helmet before thinking about a Guardian Cap.
While there is no harm in adding the soft-shelled covering, there is a cost. Guardian Caps cost about $70. The models the NFL uses are $125.
So, wherever your field or game, make sure you study your options about head protection. Then you can get your head in the game.