Head injuries in football

[Hammerhead]

Didn't some players used to wear foam covers on the outside of their helmets once in a while? I seem to recall someone from the Dallas Cowboys who did that.

Why not just make helmets with a big layer of foam or nerf-type material to provide cushion which would reduce G-forces on the brain when someone's helmet gets hit?

Edit. I found one example of the outside foam layer.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671752/...ncussion-proof

[56BISON73]

Ohio State used to have a wide foam-rubber strip down the middle many years ago. But that was the days of the old suspension helmets so it couldnt have been very effective.

[LikeMothers]

There was an excellent article in The New Yorker a couple of years ago that went into football helmets. I wish I could find it. Here's what I remember.

Recent research has shown that most concussions in football result from rotary motion of the head, not straight-on or sideways linear impacts as has always been assumed. All helmets are designed to meet test standards developed in the 80's that assume linear motion. No manufacturer wants anything to do with updating the test standards (and hence their designs) to support the new research, because that would be an admission that their products are faulty. Today, they can say, "not our fault, they're certified". Somehow, that vicious circle needs to be broken so that players can have more effective helmets.

[TransAmBison]

There was an excellent article in The New Yorker a couple of years ago that went into football helmets. I wish I could find it. Here's what I remember.

Recent research has shown that most concussions in football result from rotary motion of the head, not straight-on or sideways linear impacts as has always been assumed. All helmets are designed to meet test standards developed in the 80's that assume linear motion. No manufacturer wants anything to do with updating the test standards (and hence their designs) to support the new research, because that would be an admission that their products are faulty. Today, they can say, "not our fault, they're certified". Somehow, that vicious circle needs to be broken so that players can have more effective helmets.

Forgive me for paraphrasing, but I believe you're saying to go back to leather helmets.

[KSBisonFan]

Didn't some players used to wear foam covers on the outside of their helmets once in a while? I seem to recall someone from the Dallas Cowboys who did that.

Why not just make helmets with a big layer of foam or nerf-type material to provide cushion which would reduce G-forces on the brain when someone's helmet gets hit?

Edit. I found one example of the outside foam layer.

http://www.fastcodesign.com/1671752/...ncussion-proof

I think it was a Bills player who also wore one similar....maybe Steve Tasker?

[Trim]

I think it was a Bills player who also wore one similar....maybe Steve Tasker?

I think it was Don Beebe. Then again, my concussed head doesn't always remember things too good.

[LikeMothers]

Forgive me for paraphrasing, but I believe you're saying to go back to leather helmets.

There's something to be said for that. No purple font. I personally like watching the strategy and the plays unfold, and couldn't care less about hearing hard hits. "Better" equipment frequently just results in an arms race that gives everyone a false sense of security about injuries. Helmets just made the hits harder.

[LikeMothers]

Forgive me for paraphrasing, but I believe you're saying to go back to leather helmets.

More like, "It's a conspiracy"

[IzzyFlexion]

I think it was a Bills player who also wore one similar....maybe Steve Tasker?

Don Beebe.

Looked like Gazoo from the Flintstones.

[KSBisonFan]

I think it was Don Beebe. Then again, my concussed head doesn't always remember things too good.

Don Beebe.

Looked like Gazoo from the Flintstones.

Yup....at least my head injury didn't prevent me from getting the team right.