We have some exciting news to share about our football program: Stoughton High School, in its ongoing effort to create the safest football environment for all of its student athletes, has partnered with SAFR Sports to provide every player with a SAFR Helmet Cover this season. SAFR Helmet Covers can be attached to any helmet and are scientifically proven to reduce the risk of concussion by as much as 77%. (An example of a SAFR Helmet Cover on a black helmet is included in this post.)
Equipping the Black Knights with SAFR Helmet Covers is a complete team effort. Lead by SHS football head coach Chris Evans, money being raised this summer is being put towards safety equipment.
“Playing football safely is our number one priority, and protecting the head is vital to that effort,” said coach Evans. “Anything that can be done to make the game safer is in the best interest of our players, their parents, and our school – and our push to wear SAFR Helmet Covers was a no brainer.”
The partnership of Stoughton High School and SAFR started at the Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Director Association convention in March. SPS Athletic Director Robin Ireland heard the SAFR Sports presentation at the event and brought the data back to coach Evans. They quickly recognized how SAFR Helmet Covers align with the mission of protecting young student athletes.
“Our hope is that this extra layer of safety will encourage more student athletes and parents to consider participating in football,” said coach Evans.“
“Our product is a big step forward in the prevention of concussions and head injury,” added SAFR Sports rep Jimm Kramer. “Knowing athletes on the field are equipped with the sport’s safest head protection provides peace of mind to the school, coach, and parents.”
Recent data from a three-year independent study at a major university in Pennsylvania showed the effectiveness of wearing SAFR Helmet Covers, and the results have been published in scientific journals, including the Journal of Concussion.
This testing was validated last year at Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab, where researchers concluded that adding a SAFR Helmet Cover to 5-Star helmets showed a significant reduction in concussion risk.
“At SAFR, we are continually pursuing new ways to improve sports safety through science, and we credit Stoughton High School for taking this important step to protect their student athletes,” said SAFR Sports CEO John Zeglinski.
With the partnership, Stoughton High School became one of the first public high schools in the region to use the SAFR helmet covers.
“We appreciate Stoughton becoming the ‘Tip of the Spear’ and leading the way for other public schools in the region to get behind protecting their athletes," Zeglinski said.
About SAFR Sports:
SAFR Sports is staffed by former football players and professionals, all who share the singular mission of making football and all contact sports safer through science. SAFR Helmet Covers, worn by nearly 300 college teams, high schools, and youth football leagues, has been proven to reduce impact accelerations that reduce the adverse effects of repeated sub-concussive blows. Other important advantages of the SAFR Helmet Cover include being permitted for game-play by the National Federation of High Schools. In addition, the SAFR Helmet Cover is custom-manufactured to model and size, and will match the color and finish of existing helmets.