Soft Shell, Hard Truth: The Realities of Youth Football Safety and the Guardian Cap

By Isabelle Silva The idea of increased safety in sports, especially contact sports, is no new phenomenon. The 20th Century marked the introduction of mandatory helmet use for college football.[1] Once into the 21st Century, safety equipment not only was mandatory for football players but there became increased awareness and advocacy for player safety when research uncovered the long-term effects of concussions in the sport.[2] What is currently concerning players, parents, and spectators