ESKS.com
Rose Mary Phillip
A football hit is like a car crash. When the gladiators slam together at full tilt, backed by 300 pounds of muscle and a fiercely competitive spirit, the result on the body is similar to a head-on collision. And it can happen upwards of 50 times per game, per player. It’s serious.
A large number of those hits, if not the majority, involve a helmet (or two!). It’s the single-most important piece of equipment for any player and the only thing most of us know about it is the home and away colors they come in (yellow and green, respectively).
Let’s qualify that: Equipment managers know a great deal about helmets. It’s their business to know. After all, they are charged with keeping our boys safe while they bring home a ring.
But the rest of us? Well, we know sweet little.
Here’s a quick crash course.
The purpose of a helmet is to absorb the energy of a hit. It can only do that job if it’s secured to a head and not bouncing across the turf. That is why fit is very, very important. If the head is draped in long, thick dreadlocks, fit can be challenge. Dreads can require a full size larger than your actual noggin. So guys like receiver Fred Stamps and defensive end Marcus Howard get a little extra attention in this area. Thankfully, there are a half-dozen or so parts that help mold the helmet to a player’s head, including air pockets on the inside of the shell.
Last season, it seemed helmets were constantly flying left when players flew right. Proudly, the Eskimos had the least number of occurrences in the league. One of the factors that led to the free-floating head gear was issues with chin straps. The seam of centre Gord Hinse‘s chin strap ripped during “the game” against the BC Lions and the rest is history.
Helmets are made of three different plastics and tested in hot conditions, cold conditions and simulated game-day impact. Development is extensive and is built on science. For example, when research showed most concussions in football are caused by side impact, the cheeks pads were moved from sitting on the TMJ to the non-nerve section of the jaw. Research also led to better sight-lines for improved visibility, quick-release face guards in the event of injury, moisture resistance, odor blocking and ventilation.
Remember those old school leather helmets? They have advanced leaps and bounds since then.
Eskimo equipment gurus say helmets are the most labour intensive piece of equipment in the locker room. Every week, they check for cracks, monitor hardware, look for fatigue, ensure air pockets inflate properly and thoroughly clean and sanitize them.
To prep for game day, the team decals are removed and replaced and each helmet is power-buffed to a shine. The entire process takes about three days.
At the end of every season, all Eskimo helmets are sold to fans during the Annual Locker Room Sale. It’s the Empire’s chance to own game-worn memorabilia (and get a few autographs). Stay tuned for details in the fall.
This barely scratches the surface of all that helmets are and do. Click here for a video of the science and features behind the Riddell Revolution helmet used by the Eskimos. It is the result of a four-year development process and is “the first helmet using new technology to reduce the risk of concussion.”
Oh, in case you’re curious, the average helmet in the Eskimo locker room is size large and weighs 6.25 pounds.
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