SAFETY GEAR
RIDDELL SMART HELMETS
Player safety is always the number one priority of this program, and we are incredibly proud of the breadth of medical resources available to our players when things do go wrong.
Our program was the first university-level team to use Riddell Helmets with In-Site Analytics for all players in Canada, and we continue to use the insights to improve the game and treatments for our players.
Concussions and lasting symptoms are a recurring problem for high-impact sports such as Football, and we have always made it our mission to put player safety first in our program. These Riddell helmets are equipped with sensors at various key points which record impacts throughout the game and practices, which can be reported back to a central management system, allowing us to catch potential repetitive injuries before they occur, and modify player form to minimize the risk of head injury.
This information is also collected and shared anonymously with a group of Dalhousie researchers looking to improve concussion treatment and minimize the lasting symptoms that can be present with more severe cases. Players can also opt in for a voluntary pre and post season MRI scan to check on any effects the season may have had on their blood brain barrier.
GUARDIAN CAP
The Guardian Cap is an additional soft-shell layer which can be worn over a traditional football helmet to provide additional protection - especially during non-game training. This helmet can be removed during games to maintain the feel, sound and look of the game, at the players’ preference.
The shape and texture of the Guardian Caps significantly reduce the impact forces transferred to a player during a head collision during play by up to 33%*. The NFL has also recently approved the use of the Guardian Caps during official games, after mandating their use in practices in 2022. It is our goal to continue to follow industry and game trends to give our players a world-class safety experience while playing with us, regardless of additional cost or complexity of integration.