A longtime debate over concussions in the National Football League crept into a Sioux Falls school district meeting this week.
Athletes have become more vocal when it comes to how to prevent concussions. The NFL has allowed Guardian caps during practice and some players even wear them during games. According to ESPN, Guardian caps are large, soft-shelled pads worn over football helmets that can absorb at least 10% of the force of a hit. While it’s a relatively new product, one middle schooler in the Sioux Falls School District said he wore one to practice and was told he couldn’t any longer.
That Edison Middle School student is Grant Hohn, who took to the latest school district meeting to voice his concern during public testimony.
“Before practice I confirmed with my coach to make sure that I was able to wear it. But then, later I was told I could not because it may affect the warranty of the helmets," Grant Hohn said. "I was told anything put on a helmet besides mouthguards and visors may affect the warranty of the helmet which I thought was strange due to the fact that during our practices we would wear pennies which connect to our helmets with elastic.”
Hohn said through research he’s done, there aren’t any studies that negatively affect players wearing the caps, and all he wants is to wear the caps during practice for his own safety.
The NFL requires some position groups to wear guardian caps during practices, and they’ve led to a 50% reduction in concussions for those groups during training. Middle School Student Grand Hohn plays center on the offensive line. That position falls into one of those NFL groups.
Dave Hohn is Grant’s father. He said in Brandon the local Booster Club bought caps for the high school team, yet in Sioux Falls the Athletic Director said students can’t wear them.
“We are simply asking the school board to allow parents to better protect their kids in a violent sport. We are asking the school board to direct the athletic department to allow the use of Guardian Caps at all levels of school football – both junior and high school," Dave Hohn said. "I feel so strongly about this issue that my wife and I would like to work with the school district to organize a fundraiser so we can purchase Guardian caps for all junior and high school teams.”
While the school board didn’t take any action, they said they will get back to the Hohn family on the matter.
