Rhode Island football players get added concussion protection now
· Yahoo Sports
The Shriners of Rhode Island Charities Trust is stepping up to assist the state’s high school football programs.
Visit esporist.com for more information.
Shriners is donating 30 Guardian Caps to each of the state’s 36 public school teams. The soft-shell covers are worn over helmets with the objective of reducing the risk of concussions and other head injuries during play.
Rep. Joseph M. McNamara introduced legislation last session that would have mandated the Guardian Caps. That’s when Shriners stepped in and donated the covers for the state’s players.
There are Injury Fund games this Friday with the season starting in earnest the following weekend.
“The legendary generosity of the Rhode Island Shriners means that the state will be able to provide its football players with better protection,” McNamara, who chairs the House Education Committee, said in a statement. “This is such incredibly good news for our student athletes. Concussions remain the most serious concern in football at all levels. Collisions on the gridiron that result in head injuries are extremely dangerous, and have even been fatal at the high school level. I cannot praise the Shriners enough for stepping up and providing this level of safety on our school fields.”
Shriners will present the helmet covers to the state’s high school football coaches during an event Sunday, Sept. 6, at 1 p.m. at the Shriners headquarters, One Rhodes Place in Cranston.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Rhode Island football players get added concussion protection now