Virginia Tech’s New Youth Helmet Ratings: What They Mean For Young Athletes

Parents of football players and other athletes are understandably concerned about traumatic brain injury and a whole host of other issues. Some take solace in knowing that helmets can provide valuable protection for vulnerable young athletes. Unfortunately, not all helmets stack up.

In an effort to clear up the confusion, Virginia Tech recently released a thorough collection of ratings demonstrating which helmets are the most effective. The culmination of a decade of research, these ratings could be a critical resource for parents and coaches looking to keep young athletes safe.

How Were the Ratings Obtained?

Virginia Tech’s team sought ratings as part of a service mission — and with no help from helmet manufacturers. Thus, consumers can rest assured, knowing that the recently released ratings are completely free of manufacturer bias.

To determine ratings, the team at Virginia Tech put helmets through a series of impact tests. Products were rated under the assumption that helmets can best reduce concussion risk by lowering head acceleration. Impact conditions and weighting criteria differ considerably between activities, with the understanding that different types of athletes will suffer head impact for different reasons.

Which Helmets Are Most Effective?

While Virginia Tech underscores all ratings with the reminder that no helmet can prevent all concussions, a few products stand out. The Schutt F7 LTD made its mark in the varsity football category, while the CCM FL500 achieved the highest rating among hockey helmets. Virginia Tech also highlighted several Bontrager helmets as excellent for bikers. In the future, helmet ratings will be added for baseball and softball.

If you’ve suffered an injury due to a defective product, you owe it to yourself to get in touch with the team at Regan Zambri Long PLLC. Reach out today to learn more about our personal injury services.