Our Under 19 players were excited to take delivery this month of new Guardian Caps for each player!

The Guardian Cap is a soft-shell pad that attaches to the outer layer of the helmet to absorb contact. The shell can help minimise the impact of collisions and cut down on concussions. They have been a common sight in the NFL practice sessions over the last few years, but this year, for the first time, NFL players are also allowed to wear them in games.

As with International Rugby and Football (Soccer), American Football authorities in the USA and around the world are increasingly aware of the importance of mitigating against the effects of head collisions and concussions. The Premier League now allows concussion substitutions, and in both American Football and Rugby, there’s been a strong emphasis in the last decade on safe tackling and what we teach in American Football as “heads-up football“.

At the Kent Phoenix, we do all we can to make sure our children and young people are safe on the field and off it. From rigorous safeguarding arrangements to health and safety checks to good quality coaching and technique, everything makes a difference. The same is true of the equipment we provide and so we strongly welcome the purchase of these Guardian Caps to add to what we can do. You can find out more about how we take safety seriously elsewhere on our website.

Speaking about the purchase of the Guardian Caps, Phoenix Chairman Ian Miles recently said on social media:

“We take the safety of our players seriously here at Kent Phoenix. Wearing [the caps] during training sessions will help us provide a safe environment for our players to develop their skills.”

The investment was made possible by a kind and generous donation from a member of the Phoenix community, rather than coming direct from club funds. We’re very grateful to that anonymous donor for helping us to purchase 20 Guardian Caps for our under 19 kitted team to use this season and in the coming years.