Football+Helmets

Table of Contents: ** Introduction Injuries Newer Technology and Materials Rules and Regulations Helmet Production Future Of Helmets Conclusion Bibliograph** 
 * Abstract

**Abstract**  People around the world use protective gear to prevent injury. In American football many players are now required to use protective padding and helmets to decrease the chance of getting injured. However it took a lot of technological innovations and concussions along with the help of material sciences to produce what is commonly known as the plastic football helmet. The first football helmet is credited to James Naismith when he made straps and earpieces to protect a player’s ear. My study will explore how increasing concussions and head injuries playing football produced protective headgear that changed how the game is played, and the evolution of material sciences.

Many people debate when the first football helmet was invented because nobody really knows. Some instances of football headgear first originated in 1896 when George “Rose” Barclay used straps to protect his ears. “Early headgear, seldom worn consistently, shielded the ears and surface of the head but gave inadequate protection to the skull and brain” (Watterson). Some people credit Navy Midshipmen Joseph M. Reeves who used mole skin to allow him to play in a 1983 Army-Navy game. Ever since the invention of protective covering many experts try to prove it will decrease injuries resulting from “flying” hits and other rough tackles. Not until the mid 1940’s the National Football League (NFL) required players to wear protective head-gear made out of leather, players also referred to as “Leatherheads.” These helmets were the best solution until polymers were developed in the 1950’s. Other improvements like a face mask, foam padding, chin straps and mouth pieces were added to combat missing teeth and broken noses. Teams, like the Philadelphia Eagles, use headsets embedded into their polymer helmets so coaches can relay vital play information quicker and effectively to the players. However, many people believe this is to be an unfair advantage so NFL rules changed agreeing green dots placed on the back of the helmets to show who has headsets, only player who really needs the headset is the quarterback.
 * Introduction**

All these different types of injuries from broken bones, to concussions and sometimes even fatal blows, describe how violent football can be and the allure of the sport to many spectators. J. Nadine Gelberg describes, “In football the rise of the plastic helmet in place of leather, around 1950, allowed the sport to become more brutal, more than tripling the number of neck injuries and doubling the deaths from cervical spine injuries. In 1905 there were twenty-three football related deaths. Changing technology affects the nature of a game, the kinds of athletes who succeed, and how everyone gets hurt” (Gelberg). Some NFL players, including Bill Hewitt, disapproved of wearing helmets and during his last season had to wear a helmet because the NFL required them. Some football players “power” through offense and defense to get to the goal line even though they lost their helmet and protection from tackles.
 * Injuries**

With newer technology and materials produced every year, material science engineers are trying to develop safer shock absorbent helmets to lessen blows and hopefully decreasing damage to players. Patent 6,934,971 B2 shows an average sized helmet fitted with headset, chin straps, face-guard, mouth piece and all protective covering. Most patents use this same idea of protecting the players however, how much force can be delivered before the helmet fails or does the shape of the helmet make the biggest difference for the safety of the players. Some of the leading experts in the field of producing plastic football helmets concluded that “testing has shown that major brands/models of football helmets perform remarkably similar in the locations and conditions tested. Helmets of various design and age have little effect on the outcome” (Halstead at el). With the empirical data given, it can be proven newer materials is the only alternative to making helmets stronger and absorb more forces upon impact. Materials inside the helmet like foam-padding and air pockets help secure the helmet onto the players head, and reduce some of the force from a blow.
 * Newer Technology and Materials**

With stronger material and bigger, stronger, faster players required football officials to make drastic changes to the rules and regulations of football. Football used to be a soccer-style version of rugby with a lot of modifications thus creating the modern American football game. “In 1888 the rules committee moved to permit blocking and tackling below the waist, and the game became less individual and more team-oriented” (Watterson). Many tackles were above the waist around the neck, face and shoulders when player dive to tackle the quarterback and other players. In 1894 another rule was applied to ensure no more than “three men going into motion before the ball was put in play,” (Watterson). This rule was needed because they could get a group of players to run the ball injuring a lot of people at once almost using their helmets as a weapon. Also rules changed like the ten yard rule, opposed to the five yard rule, where players now have three chances to get ten yards, and the forward pass, instead of only laterals, were used making a safer, and more strategic game based on skill rather than brute force. Other safety equipment was also introduced like the body pad, and shoulder pads to absorb blows while distributing the force over a greater area. “Football is safer today than in the early 1900’s. Carefully engineered and tested equipment, especially headgear, has reduced the life-threatening injuries that plagued football before 1920” (Watterson).
 * Rules and Regulations**

"One company pushes another -- one does something that's innovative and the other one adopts it," said Bill Jarvis, athletic equipment manager at Northwestern University, whose players test gear for Riddell and wear a variety of helmets” (CNNSI). Although newer developments in the material technology of companies, expert Halstead “’… don't think there's a helmet out there that's somehow going to be the panacea,’ said Halstead, technical adviser to the National Operating Committee for Standards on Athletic Equipment and director of the Sports Biomechanics Impact Research Center at the University of Tennessee. ‘What football helmets do today is keep you from getting killed’” (CNNSI). That statement holds true to many players who have died due to being paralyzed, brain hemorrhaging and other medical conditions. Riddell is a “$100 million-a-year company,” (CNNSI) who specializes in production and distribution of helmets to NFL, college, and high school teams. "Football is a game of very, very hard collisions, and I don't think there's a manufacturer out there that isn't concerned about what happens on the field," Nimmons said. "However, there's only so much any of us can do" about trying to minimize injuries. Football always had millions of viewers because it is a full contact sport and will always be a risky sport so player practice and build their bodies to be bigger, faster, and stronger. Players are not the only thing that has been changing increasing faster every year.
 * Helmet Production**

Every year there are newer materials consisting of polymers and other monomers that are used in combination of other materials to make them lighter, stronger and absorb more forces. The general design of a football helmet hasn’t changed in years because humans haven’t evolved and changed the shape of their skulls. Many companies like Riddell spend years developing newer ideas and materials because they need some way of lessening the blow to such a small area preventing concussion and other serious injuries. With such a large market consisting of millions of high school, college, and national level athletes, there will always be room for improvements. With newer technologies like radios and LCD’s players may be able to have on-screen plays to help players who are hearing impaired or cant hear the plays because it is too loud in the stadium, There are many improvements to look forward to in upcoming years due to the increasing rate of newer materials and new technologies that can affect how the game is played found.
 * Future Of Helmets**

In conclusion, people play sports that are risky and engineers try to make improvements in protective gear to make the game safer for everybody. With newer materials and superior technology hopefully we are designing the way for a better safer future in recreational or professional sports. There will always be a risk to any contact sport and players put their bodies through hard tackles and practice many hours to become faster, stronger, and bigger players to stay competitive. With new technological advancements like headsets change how the game is played, just like how rules change the way football was played. From early years as a soccor-style version of rugby to the modern American football game millions of viewers watch weekly, football is a dangerous sport and helmets are there to protect the player. Before helmets were invented there were numerous deaths, and even after they were invented there are still football related deaths every year. With newer technology, material and changes to the rules making football a safer game today than it was in the 1900’s. My study shows how increasing concussions and head injuries playing football produced protective headgear that changed how the game is played, and the evolution of material sciences.
 * Conclusion**

Primary Sources Halstead, Kramer, Schnider, and Drew at el. __Impact Dynamics of Football Helmets on Various__ __Surfaces__. Tech. June 2 . Ide, Thad, Ralph Infusino, and Nelson Kraemer. Football Helmet. Riddell, Inc, assignee. Patent 6,934,971 B2. Aug. 30th 2005. < [] >. Secondary Sources __ Bill Hewitt __. 2009. Pro football Hall of Fame. 12 May 2009 . "CNNSI.com - 2002 NFL Preview - Redesigned football helmets tackle concussions, comfort Monday August 12, 2002 02:58 AM." __Breaking news, real-time scores and daily analysis__ __from Sports Illustrated__ __ – ____ SI.com __. 9 June 2009 . Gelberg, J. Nadine. "The Big Technological Tennis Upset." __Invention and Technology__ Spring 1997. 31 May 2009 . __ NFL Digest of Rules __. 2009. National Football League. 14 May 2009 . Oriard, Micheal. __Brand NFL: Making & Selling America's Favorite Sport__. University of North Carolina Press, 2007. Watterson, John S. “’Inventing Modern Football.” __Invention and Technology__ September/October 1998. 31 May 2009 < [] > Reference Sources __ History of Football Helmets __. 10 May 2009 < [] >. __ How NFL Equipment Works __. 12 May 2009 . __ Football Helmets __. 10 May 2009 .
 * __ Bibliography __**