Spectrum News :: STAYING AHEAD WITH PLAYER SAFTEY DURING 7ON7
SPECTRUM NEWS | AUSTIN, TEXAS JUNE 28, 2019
STAYING AHEAD WITH PLAYER SAFTEY DURING 7ON7
By Travis Recek
AUSTIN, Texas — Player safety has become a focus in football over the past few years.
– 7on7 played without safety pads – Players required to wear soft shell helmet
Many modifications have been made for the game in pads, but there is also the game without pads, 7on7.
“If you’ve been in this long enough at the 7on7 level, you’ve witnessed a head injury, and I have,” said Westlake head coach Todd Dodge.
In Texas, 7on7 is huge and that is proven with the size and scope of the state tournament every summer. This year the Texas State 7on7 Organization decided to try to make their event safer and mandated every player wear an approved soft-shell helmet
“I know as a head coach when I go to this tournament I have a little more piece of mind,” said Dodge.
“I think it’s a great opportunity if it’s going to advocate for more kids to do what we’re doing, get out and throw that football, and make mom and dad feel safer,” said Brandeis head coach David Branscom.
The approved head gear for the tournament is a soft-shell helmet that fits around the entire head but has state of the art technology. Gamebreaker is the main supplier of the headgear for the teams.
“It feels like soft cloth but on impact the molecules lock up and have a hardening effect,” Gamebreaker vice president of sales and marketing Kyle Auffray explained.
