As American football increases in popularity, greater attention is being given to head-related injuries and concussions caused by the high-impact sport. Looking at the helmet’s structural safety and the way that football players use their helmets can be an integral part in preventing head injuries. Current strategies include penalizing players for high-risk behavior such as leading with their helmet or hitting an opposing player above the shoulder. A more passive and effective strategy would be to modify the helmet in a way to better protect the head of the players or even to change the playing style of the players. Football Players Use Their Helmets to Tackle Others Despite Knowing Risks Andrew Kuriyama, Austin Nakatsuka, Loren G. Yamamoto, MD, MPH, MBA, FAAP, FACEP Department of Pediatrics, University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Kapiolani Medical Center For Women And Children Background Results ( n = 177 football players ) Conclusions Methods Future Studies Surveys were distributed to high school varsity football teams. Surveys asked players about the use of their helmets while playing and if modifications to the helmet (soft foam rubber on the outside of the helmet) would affect their style of play. The survey contained 11 multiple-choice questions. A total of 177 players participated in the survey. Acknowledgements Significance This study looks to survey current high school varsity football players on how they use their helmets when playing and how certain helmet modifications would affect their style of play. By understanding how high school players intend to use their helmets and what they think of certain helmet designs, progressive steps can be taken to further reduce head injuries. • Heavy Hand Impacts. Current or former football players will strike a HITS helmet with their hand, measuring impact from a celebratory “head slap” that often occurs during games. • Different Types of Material. Other dampening material such as cloth, leather, or rubber could be seen as a more effective way of injury prevention. • Complete Covering of Helmet. Using a helmet that can measure the force of an impact, fitted exterior wrapping will be made to cover the entire helmet and Most of the young football players we surveyed use their helmets to block or tackle (79%), though the majority is taught they would be penalized or potentially injured if they do so. A little less than half thought that putting a soft cover over a regular helmet would help to protect their head better, yet only a small percent thought that the soft cover would prevent them from using their helmet to tackle (23%). Although much less than the majority mentioned that their heads or neck hurt, after getting their helmet slapped in celebration, this could be a potential source of head injuries. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Never 1-4 Times 5-10 Times More than 10 Times How many times have you done this in the last year? 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Yes No 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 2. I was told that this is a poor way to tackle someone 3. I was told that spearing with my helmet would hurt the other player 6. I was told that spearing with my helmet would result in my getting kicked out of the game 1. I was told spearing with my helmet was a good way to tackle someone Of the 177 participants, 79% (n=139) said that they have used their football helmet to hit another player while tackling or blocking them. 30% (n=52) said that they have done this more than 10 times within the last year. Only 9% (n=15) of players were told that leading with your helmet was an effective way to tackle or block someone, while 58% (n=102) or participants said they were told it was a poor way of tackling someone. Players also seem to know that tackling or blocking someone while leading with their head can potentially injure their opponent (72%, n=127, of participants) or themselves (92%, n=162, of participants). Players also know that leading with their heads can result in in-game penalties (79%) or getting ejected from the game (60%). 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% Yes No Q10: Do you think that putting a soft cover (foam rubber) over your regular helmet would protect your head better? 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 3. Bad idea: A soft cover over my helmet takes away the hardest part of my gear, I will have to use my shoulder pad to inflict pain when tackling 2. Bad idea: A soft cover over my helmet would make it more difficult to tackle 6. Good idea: A soft cover over my helmet would prevent me from wanting to spear or lead with my helmet 5. Good idea: A soft cover over my helmet would protect my head better 1. Bad idea: A soft cover over my helmet would make my head look big 48% (n=85) of participants thought that putting a foam rubber cover over their original helmets would protect their heads better. When asked if playing with the soft cover over their heads is a good or bad idea, 38% (n=67) said it is a bad idea because it would make their heads look big, 41% (n=72) said it is a bad idea because it would make it harder to tackle or block, 30% (n=53) said it is a bad idea because they would have to use their shoulder instead, 29% (n=51) said it was a bad idea because the sound of colliding helmets is part of the game. 43% (n=76) thought it would be a good idea because it would protect their helmet better and 23% (n=40) thought it was a good idea because it would stop them from leading with their head. 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% Did you ever get your helmet slapped by your teammate? 5. Yes and it hurt my neck a little 4. Yes and it hurt my head more than a little 3. Yes and it hurt my head a little 6. Yes and it hurt my neck more than a little 2. Yes but it never hurt at all 1.Yes I have had my helmet slapped Of the participants who answered, 88% (n=155) said that they had their helmet slapped by a teammate although 66% (n=116) said that it never hurt at all. 31% (n=55) said that their head hurt a little, while only 8% (n=14) said their head hurt more than a little. 12% (n=22) said that their necks hurt a little while 3% said their necks hurt more than a little. When asked if they accidently or purposefully hit an opposing player with their helmet (question 8), 36% (n=64) said that it was an accident while 15% (n=27) said they did it on purpose and 31% (n=55) said that they or their opponent purposefully caused the head-to-head contact one or more times. • Hawaii high school football players, coaches, and athletic directors who volunteered their time to complete these surveys. 4. I was told that spearing with my helmet would hurt me 5. I was told that spearing with my helmet would result in a game penalty 7. I was told to NEVER tackle or block by spearing with my helmet 8. Other Have you ever used your football helmet to hit another player on the other team during a tackle? Have you ever been taught that spearing and leading with your helmet is a bad idea? Why do you think playing with a soft cover over your helmet will be a good idea or bad idea? 4. Bad idea: The sound of helmets colliding is part of the game of football