A West Virginia state senator is advocating for stronger safety measures in youth football following the tragic passing of Boone County middle school football player Cohen Craddock last month. Senator Mike Stuart announced his intention to introduce the Cohen Craddock Student-Athlete Safety Act at the next legislative session.
The proposed act, named in memory of the young athlete, would require the use of Guardian caps for elementary and middle school football players, as well as during contact practices for high school football teams. Guardian caps are padded coverings that fit over helmets, designed to reduce the risk of concussions and head injuries.
According to the senator’s office, the Guardian cap significantly lowers the chance of head injuries, especially during practice, when players are more prone to repetitive hits. Stuart was motivated to push for this legislation after Craddock passed away from a head injury sustained during a football practice on August 24.
“We need to take greater precautions not only to prevent tragedies like Cohen Craddock but also to protect against CTE and the perpetual head trauma of our student-athletes,” Stuart said in his statement. “A minor head trauma over and over again can lead to serious health consequences. We are learning more and more about the impact of chronic head trauma. In too many young athletes, we may not see the impact tomorrow or next week or next month but, rather, in 10 or 20 years we see the tragic impact. It is our responsibility to do more to protect our student-athletes on the field.”
Stuart also emphasized the importance of learning from professional football leagues. “The NFL has embraced Guardian caps. If it’s good enough for the NFL, it’s good enough for us,” he said. “Keep in mind, players in the NFL have the best safety equipment. NFL helmets are state of the art, updated annually, and can cost more than a thousand dollars. Our student-athletes aren’t getting thousand-dollar helmets. In fact, I’ll bet many of our student football players are wearing the same helmets that have been worn for years. Guardian caps are affordable and, if the NFL uses them, our kids should as well. It is the least we can do to provide greater safety in competition on the field.”
Stuart plans to reach out to the NFL, as well as West Virginia University and Marshall University football programs, for support and funding to implement the Cohen Craddock Student-Athlete Safety Act. If passed, the act would mark a significant step forward in protecting young athletes from the dangers of repeated head trauma.