UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health Guardian Caps Recent findings show they do not reduce concussions February 12, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — It’s become quite common to see high school football players wearing a puffy cap over their helmet.
Guardian Caps were created to prevent concussions, but a recent study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health found wearing the soft-shell helmet covers has no real impact in preventing concussions during practice.
“There are some changes to the helmet that have been shown to be effective in the past, but what we found was adding padding to the outside has not seemed to make a difference,” the study’s lead author, Dr. Erin Hammer, said.
The study followed nearly 3,000 high school football players across 41 teams in Wisconsin during the 2023 season. Appleton North’s football team was one of them.
“Does it or does it not cause or help the concussion? We know that it limited and lowered the impact, and that is a plus for us right there, and that is what you are looking for,” Appleton North football coach Rob Salm said.
Salm says the way they’re coaching the game is much different than 10 years ago. He says the team has seen a considerable drop in concussions from years past.
We don’t try to involve the head in anything that we do — tackling, blocking, anything. It does happen, of course. Things will happen that are out of our control.
The study was attempting to find factors athletes can have control over to reduce their risk.
“Rule changes, like the rules changes that have happened with kickoffs, can reduce concussion. Limiting practice by contact, then finally, hiring an athletic trainer to take care of athletes on the sideline,” Dr. Hammer says.
Appleton North’s football program will continue to wear Guardian Caps at the high school and middle school levels.
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