Dr. Shannon Goode, a primary care sports medicine physician at the Ochsner Andrews Sports Medicine Institute, said he sees collision-related injuries, such as concussions, in every sport. But she says she sees them most often in soccer.

“In football, the collision is what you want at certain times. You have to stop somebody, you bump into them,” Goode said. “When it comes to protective gear in sports, there are going to be injuries. How do we prevent them from being severe? How do we stop them from changing their lives?”

In 2010, Guardian Sports created a soft-shell helmet called the Guardian Cap in an attempt to increase protection during the inevitable impacts of football.

“The theory behind the helmet in football is almost like the same theory behind wearing a seat belt when you’re in the car … adding a Guardian cap is like the airbag in the car,” Goode said. “It’s an extra layer of protection to prevent us from developing serious injuries when we experience a collision or trauma.”

In 2017, Guardian Caps won the first NFL HeadHealthTech Challenge and secured an investment from the league as it pushed to develop improved safety equipment.

By 2022, the NFL has mandated that linemen, linebackers and tight ends wear Guardian caps during training camp. In 2023, the league added quarterbacks and fullbacks to the roster and expanded the mandate to say caps must be worn in all practices throughout the season.

This year, the NFL added wide receivers and defensive backs to the roster and began allowing players to wear caps during regular season games.

Coach Smith says he has started looking into purchasing Guardian Caps for his young players. Thanks to a Willow graduate working with the New Orleans Saints and backup quarterback Jake Haener, Willow received 70 guard caps, enough to outfit the entire team.

The team wore caps all summer during practices.

In August, another parent of one of the players emailed Eric Held, director of the Louisiana High School Coaches Association, to clarify whether the Lions could wear the Guardian caps during games. The LHSCA is a sub-entity of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, which is responsible for regulating high school athletic programs throughout the state.

Held responded, “As far as using the Guardian caps, I would discuss that with the (athletic director) and/or the head football coach. Many teams use them in practice, they are allowed; however, in gaming, headset manufacturers will tell you that third-party accessories would not be approved because headsets are certified for headsets only. So it’s up to the school to check with their individual helmet manufacturers about this.”

For Smith, this meant that, unlike NFL players, Guichet and the Lions could not wear Guardian caps during games.

“We expected to carry them all year,” Smith said. “I was trying to think of how we could put our logo on the sides and stuff like that. And then they said we can’t wear them during competitive games.

“We have to stay compliant. And so, wearing those hats, we wouldn’t conform. So, we wear them during training. And when it’s game time, we take them out.”

LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine told Fox 8 that the decision on Guardian Caps is up to the helmet manufacturer, not the LHSAA.

“We’re not banning them from wearing them, and we’re not going to tell them they can wear them,” Bonine said. “It has to be a decision made by the school and their manufacturer. Because the manufacturer is ultimately responsible for whether there is a head injury.”

Determined to get Guardian caps approved for the Lions, the parent contacted Riddell, the maker of Willow’s SpeedFlex helmets. The parent requested a letter of compliance allowing Willow to use the caps during games.

Riddell’s customer support team responded: “Riddell can only suggest that the helmet be used as tested and approved by NOCSAE and as of now the helmet has only been approved in the direct way we make them. We as a company can only accept the way it goes from here.”

The LHSAA says that in Louisiana, helmets must be recertified under National Standards Operating Committee for Athletic Equipment (NOSCAE) guidelines every two years to ensure they are safe for play.

Bonine said there is no rule against players wearing caps, but without the manufacturer’s approval, Willow could make his helmet ineligible for recertification just by wearing it in practice.

“In practice they wear them. So much for the NOCSAE seal. Wear them during the game. So someone — not us, but someone at The Willow School — makes the decision that they can (wear them),” Bonine said.

Held said: “It’s the same whether it’s training or playing. The NOCSAE Seal is applicable to both practice and play.”

Effectively, this means that if the Lions want their helmets to remain compliant, they cannot use the donated Guardian caps at all.

Dr. Goode says that while Guardian Caps seem to help, the science is not yet definitive.

“They’ve been studying these Guardian caps for almost 10 years, and the data…unfortunately can vary in any number of ways,” Goode said. “So that’s why there are so many narratives out there, whether it’s safe or it’s really great or it doesn’t work at all.”

But she said the mental reassurance from the perception of added safety can help athletes.

“The Guardian headphones don’t hurt, do they? There are no studies that say we have an increased risk of injury by wearing the Guardian helmet,” Goode said.

That’s why Joseph is confused by the LHSAA’s requirement.

“Why not use it? It’s something that will add a layer of protection. It’s a no-brainer,” Joseph said. “It feels very strange and doesn’t follow any logic. So, you know, I’m not going to blame the LHSAA if anything, but it also feels lazy.”

The parent who initially emailed the LHSAA regarding concerns also contacted Guardian Sports about the issue. In response, national sales manager Mike Finney called the LHSAA’s requirement for a letter of compliance from the manufacturer “insane.” He added: “Riddell is not involved in the rulemaking process and our Guardian caps do NOT cause helmet decertification or void warranties.”

Bonine says the decision is not arbitrary and is based on accountability.

“If there’s a reason the company doesn’t approve of it, then that conversation (needs to be had with) Riddell. Because… this organization is not going to outbid a manufacturer and then at that point void any warranty though on the helmet hardware just so I can be attacked. The fact that I don’t give a (expletive) about… athlete safety is wrong. That’s not true at all.”

But some Lions are hoping to see a change that would allow them to wear caps without risking voiding their helmets’ safety certification.

“I think, definitely, especially in high school, kids should be able to wear them,” Guichet said.

Smith said: “I hope, somehow, that a change will happen. … Looking at these kids here, we have some of the brightest minds in the state here on the ground right here, and we want to protect them.”

Joseph added: “When people realize that this is something that even professional athletes can use, but their kids aren’t allowed to use, it will start to create a conversation and hopefully change that.”

In a statement to Fox 8, Guardian further disputed Riddell’s claim that the caps could void or void a headset’s warranty, writing, “Since the inception of Guardian Caps in 2011, no headset warranty has been voided to our knowledge.” .

Guardian CEO and owner Erin Hanson said in the statement: “We are committed to ensuring that athletes using Guardian caps can enjoy the best possible protection while still maintaining the validity of the helmet manufacturer’s warranty. To this end, Guardian hereby warrants that we will honor the helmet replacement warranty for any helmet that is damaged while equipped with a Guardian cover, even if the helmet manufacturer chooses to void the warranty due to the presence of our product.

“We believe this collaboration will provide athletes with a comprehensive solution where the benefits of both Guardian caps and helmet products can coexist harmoniously. Our intention is to ensure that athletes have access to the highest level of protection while maintaining the confidence that warranty coverage remains intact.”

Riddell did not respond to Fox 8’s request for comment.

The LHSAA says its rulemaking committee is comprised of 408 principals from schools across the state. Bonine says any request to change the rules would have to be written by one of those principals. Requests for rule changes are considered at the annual LHSAA committee meetings each January.