Not long ago we got a glimpse of specially designed helmets being used by a couple of different college football programs this fall with a camera built-in to the helmet. As cool as it is to see technological enhancements be implemented in to the helmets to provide for new coaching and film study methods, the helmet is still primarily used to protect the player’s head. Arkansas is using a new helmet design to hopefully reduce the risk of concussions this spring.
The helmet is designed by Riddell, a popular helmet supplier for years. The Riddell Speedflex helmet is designed to disperse energy and reduce the risk of trauma, according to a flyer about the helmet shared by Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema on Twitter.Very excited to have our players wearing these helmets. Player safety always Priority 1 #WooPig pic.twitter.com/ZuGZlOMo2e
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) March 21, 2014
As you might expect from Bielema at this point, the head coach of the Razorbacks made a point to place an emphasis on player safety in his tweet about the new helmet. Bielema has been on the side in favor of the recent discussion about the 10-second defensive substitution rule in college football. Bielema had gotten in to some murky waters with his comments supporting the need for the rule -- the rule has been put on the shelf for a year to allow for more research and data collection -- and he continues to push the player safety angle whenever he can.