Study: Football players not protected as much as they could be
The number of sports-related traumatic brain injuries in people under age 19 increased 62 percent between 2001 and 2009, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Researchers at Virginia Tech conducted thousands of tests on every adult football helmet on the market. The helmets are used by high school players and the pros.
Duma said the tests are called "drop tests." He said the helmet is put on a dummy head and dropped from five heights and in four directions. He said the better helmets cushion the impact and lower the head acceleration.
"We were the first group to come out and put a lot of science and testing behind evaluating helmets," said Dr. Stefan Duma, director of the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences and Virginia Tech.
This spring, Duma created a rating system for the helmets, based on his research. The system gives 5 stars to the "best available" helmet, 4 stars for "very good" helmets, 3 stars for "good" helmets, 2 stars for "adequate" helmets, 1 star for "marginal" helmets, and no stars for not recommended helmets.
To see the rating system, click here.
"We have no financial relationship to any manufacturer. We just want to tell parents and coaches what the best helmets are," Duma said.
A WYFF News 4 Investigates analysis of helmets used by all high school football teams in Greenville County found the majority of the helmets the schools have purchased for their players have a 5-star rating. The analysis found no Greenville County high school football teams used 1 star or "not recommended" helmets.
The analysis found 3 Greenville County high school football teams have Schutt Air Advantage helmets, rated 2 stars for "adequate."
J.L. Mann High School has twenty 2-star helmets, and sixty-four 5-star helmets. Riverside High School has thirty-five 2-star helmets, and seventy-seven 5-star helmets. Greer High School has twenty-one 2-star helmets and ninety-one 5-star helmets.
WYFF News 4 Investigates asked Duma to explain the difference between a 5-star helmet and a 2-star helmet.
"The better helmets have a better shell and more padding. You look at the inside of that 2 star helmet and there's not much padding in there," Duma said.
Greer's football coach William Young told WYFF News 4 Investigates the 2-star helmets were purchased years before the Virginia Tech study came out. He said the majority of his players, including the entire varsity football team, use the 5-star helmets.
Young said the 2-star helmets are kept in storage, or used by the seventh and eighth-grade teams, which are also funded by Greer High School. Young said the school purchases at least 10 new helmets for its players each year, and the 2-star helmets will be phased out. He said he will look at the Virginia Tech study to determine which helmets to purchase.
"Obviously any study that comes about, we're going to look at it, we're going to pay attention to it, and try to keep our kids in the safest helmet we can possibly put on them," Young said.
Young said if any parent has a question or concern about the helmet their child is wearing, he would be happy to meet with them.
In an email to WYFF News 4 Investigates, J.L. Mann's athletic director Tod Tucker said the 2-star helmets are their oldest helmets, and they are not given out until last. He also said the helmets are aging out, and the school will probably lose half this year and the remaining half next year.
Riverside High School's principal Andy Crowley told WYFF News 4 Investigates through email that the school's 2 star helmets are used on the lower level teams, specifically the D-team. He said the school regularly purchases new helmets and consistently monitors and upgrades its equipment.
Greenville County School officials point out that all helmets are inspected and reconditioned by the manufacturer at the end of each season.
WYFF News 4 Investigates asked Upstate school districts which helmet models their high school football teams use. Not every high school responded to the inquiry.
To see the complete list, and how the helmets rate, click here.