02/06/26 11:41:00
Printable Page
02/06 11:40 CST NFL launches challenge to improve facemasks and reduce
concussions
NFL launches challenge to improve facemasks and reduce concussions
By JOSH DUBOW
AP Pro Football Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) --- The NFL is challenging innovators to improve the
facemask on football helmets to reduce concussions in the game.
The league announced on Friday at an innovation summit for the Super Bowl the
next round in the HealthTECH Challenge series, a crowdsourced competition
designed to accelerate the development of cutting-edge football helmets and new
standards for player safety.
The challenge invites inventors, engineers, startups, academic teams and
established companies to improve the impact protection and design of football
helmets through improvements to how facemasks absorb and reduce the effects of
contact on the field.
Most progress on helmet safety has come from improvements to the shell and
padding, helping to reduce the overall rate of concussions. But this past
season, 44% of in-game concussions resulted from impact to the player's
facemask, up from 29% in 2015, according to data gathered by the NFL.
"The rapid rate of innovation in helmet technology reflects how research and
data can directly improve the level of safety across football," said Jeff
Miller, the NFL's executive vice president overseeing player health and safety.
"These challenges have raised the standard of equipment to help reduce
concussions and mitigate the effects of head impacts. Recent efforts to improve
shell impact technology have been incredibly fruitful, and now we look forward
to evaluating this next wave of creative solutions to facemasks and other
helmet components with the goal of further reducing injury."
Selected winners will receive up to $100,000 in aggregate funding, as well as
expert development support to help move their concepts from the lab to the
playing field.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
|
