MILLBURY, Ohio — If you've watched a football game on TV or in person, you've probably noticed some players wearing a unique cover on their helmets.
They are called Guardian Caps, a one-size-fits-all pad that helps protect athletes.
Although the piece of equipment has been used since 2012 when Clemson and South Carolina began using them in college football, exposure to the gridiron addition continues to increase throughout northwest Ohio.
However, it's not just what is on top that looks different but underneath it provides a big change as well.
"I think it's sweet to start something out," junior linebacker Delfino Garcia said. "I guarantee other teams are going to start doing it soon because it's very helpful."
Lake High School adopted Guardian Caps before the start of the 2024 season. The Flyers have embraced the cutting-edge material science by using them every day.
"It has given us a peace of mind that we know what we're doing is best for the players," head coach Lane Bishop said. "Taking all of the preventative measures that we can to ensure their safety."
On Sept. 20 against Genoa, the program took the field in unison with every player wearing a cap. The display marked Ohio's first high school to use them as a team in a game. Lake is only the fourth nationally to do so as well, with high schools in Georgia, Minnesota and Wisconsin being the others.
"We've had a lot of area coaches reach out about our thoughts on it," Bishop said. "They've asked why we're doing it, who we got it from and the cost. I think it's generated a lot of interest."
In 2010, the NFL initially declined this piece of equipment. But through increased participation from big-time college football programs and high schools, the Guardian Cap finally made its way into the professional ranks with the Los Angeles Rams debuting them in 2021.
"We've heard anecdotally along the way a lot of great feedback, but what's been validating to us is with the NFL's data. Their concussions dropped by 52%," Jake Hanson said.
As the COO of Guardian Sports, the only company manufacturing and testing these caps, Hanson explains there are two functions they serve.
"Putting foam on the exterior of the helmet helps decelerate that impact and allows the hit to be reduced," Hanson said. "Two, it is disconnected from the helmet so allows the padding to slide."
According to data compiled by Stanford University and the NFL, impact reduction has improved 40% in college and 10-20% in the NFL.
The one-size-fits-all mechanism doesn't only serve the athletes wearing them, but opponents as well when making contact during gameplay.
A benefit Garcia said provides a new sense of confidence when on the field.
"Usually you feel the helmets collide and hear a crack but now you hit and, boom, you just feel safer with it," Garcia said. "Honestly gave me more confidence to play with aggression than before."
Injuries can never be fully prevented, but if Guardian Caps are proving to preserve the health of players, why isn't everyone wearing them?
Part of that answer reflects on the appearance.
"People think that facemasks didn't look that great initially either or plastic shell helmets," Hanson said. "I think it's just starting to change that dynamic and it's a paradigm shift in football."
Aesthetics remains a project Hanson's company continues to work on, with ideas of adding color and logos to Guardian Caps in order to gain more interest. Only 10% of the entire football market has adopted the safety add-on.
Northwest Ohio though has been active. On top of Lake jumping on the opportunity, programs like Anthony Wayne, Bowling Green and St. John's have included the equipment in their locker rooms. Most players only wear them during practice but a few prefer to carry them over into games.
For the Flyers specifically, to showcase safety as an entire unit, however, could lead to a massive impact across the sport as a whole.
"Lake High School being on the cutting edge of having their entire football team wearing them in games," Hanson said. "They could be a pioneer for this being picked up by the entire country."
Guardian Sports is an offshoot of the Hanson Group, a company designed to help with any material science or chemical issue. The cost of its caps runs on average around $54 per pad and lasts 3-4 years.
More than 5,000 high schools nationwide and over 500 colleges, including the NFL, have implemented the use of Guardian Caps.
Lake will travel to Otsego High School on Friday, another opportunity to showcase the benefits of this added protection.