Team Detail
New Helmet Technology Increases Insight into Player Safety
In its ongoing efforts to be a leader in player wellness and safety, the Loyola Academy Football Program has adopted three new tools to bolster protection for players on the field, including the flexible Riddell SpeedFlex Helmet, the innovative Protech Helmet Cap and the state-of-the-art InSite Training Tool with cutting edge Impact Analytics. “We always want to be on the forefront of all safety measures,” says Head Varsity Football Coach John Holecek.
As recent research has put a spotlight on the effects of head injuries on adolescent athletes, the time is right for a move to more advanced equipment that incorporates modern design, engineering and technology.
“Concussions are an obvious concern in today’s day and age, and, as health care professionals, we are learning more about concussions and how they affect players both in the short term and the long term,” says Head Athletic Trainer Andrew Rdzok. “As sports medicine staff, our primary role here is the overall health, safety and wellbeing of all student athletes. One of the preventative measures that we have incorporated this year is the Riddell SpeedFlex Helmet.”
Founded in 1929 with an original focus on developing a shoe specifically designed for performance on the football field, Riddell is now a leading sports equipment company dedicated to innovation, protection and performance. In 1939, they invented the Riddell Plastic Shell, a prototype of the first-ever plastic football helmet. By the 1980s, Riddell’s classic VSR4 helmet rose to icon status among professional football teams and became the go-to helmet of choice for discerning collegiate and high school programs.
Riddell SpeedFlex Helmet
With flexibility engineered into the helmet’s shell and face mask, the Riddell SpeedFlex Helmet is designed to reduce the impact force transferred to an athlete upon impact. A strategic combination of padding inside the helmet absorbs impact energy. A occipital lock—an inflatable liner—cradles that athlete’s occipital lobe for improved security and fit. An advanced chinstrap, stainless steel facemask hardware, side shell extensions and five-point custom inflation offer state-of-the-art protection to increase the level of protection offered to players and reduce the likelihood of the occurrence of concussions. Loyola Academy Equipment Manager, Freshman Football Assistant Coach and Theology Teacher Christopher Zaker reports that Loyola’s entire varsity football team is equipped with the SpeedFlex Helmets.
Protech Helmet Cap
With the emphasis always on player safety, another tool that Loyola has incorporated is the Protech Helmet Cap, an add-on to new or existing helmets. Utilizing specialized polyurethane foam, the Protech Cap acts like an airbag to absorb and dissipate energy away from the cranium. When compared to conventional helmets, the Protech Cap deflects blows with a lower coefficient of friction—meaning it has a more slippery surface.
InSite Training Tool with Impact Analytics
The most advanced of all, Riddell’s InSite Training Tool (ITT) with Impact Analytics incorporates smart helmet technology to bring the leading impact monitoring system in football to Loyola Academy in exactly 36 helmets. Sensors in the helmets monitor the severity of a hit and alert coaches or training staff on the sidelines with important information about the impact.
“The sensor links up with a handheld monitor that is carried by the athletic training staff and alerts us to a player’s status after taking a hit to the head either from one direct blow or a series of blows,” explains Rdzok.
Data is presented to training staff in an easy-to-read dashboard format so training staff can proactively address any concerns. The technology has already been integrated into Loyola’s football program and tested on the field.
Coach Holecek advises that starters on the varsity level are now donning helmets with the sensors. When a sensor alerts the staff to a significant hit on the field, Rdzok explains that the sports medicine team immediately goes into action—pulling that player aside and conducting an evaluation for a head, neck or spine injury.
The new helmets, with their ability to provide new levels of insights and more comprehensive data about blows on the field, align with Loyola’s emphasis on player safety and wellness. To learn more visit http://www.riddell.com/InSite.
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