Helmets can’t make football safe

Recently, the Daily Herald ran a story on the use of Guardian Caps for high school football players. While the article was certainly well written, I’m afraid that it is contributing to the idea that there is some way to make a sport featuring continuing jarring collisions safe. Quoting a kid saying, “head injuries just weren’t a thing anymore” and leaving that basically unchallenged seems irresponsible.

Your article referenced the fact that participation is down due to parental concerns. I would love to see the Herald follow up this story with one that takes an objective look at how this issue is impacting football teams at levels from grade school through college. And does the price tag on the Cap mean that kids in poor communities are being denied even this minimal protection being offered to the more affluent?

Two high school football players died of their game related injuries in America in the first week of the season, a fact that appeared nowhere in the Herald story.

As parents confront the decision on whether to let their child play this sport, objective facts would be helpful.

Patricia Motto

Elmhurst