Guardian Caps Make Debut at UW-Platteville Football Practice

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Practice has a different look at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium this preseason as the University of Wisconsin-Platteville football team debuted its new Guardian Caps on Thursday. The groundbreaking investment makes the Pioneers the first team in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) to provide one of the revolutionary protective caps to every member of the team.

 

"Current research has shown Guardian Caps can help keep our guys on the field, which better positions us to compete on a daily basis. However, this isn't just an investment in performance, it's more importantly, an investment in the safety and future of our student-athletes," said Director of the Center for Sports Medicine and Performance Michael Martin.

 

Fans around the country have become accustomed to this new technology over the last couple of years, seeing their favorite NFL teams and larger Division I programs adorn the helmets during practice. While other Division III institutions have begun incorporating the protective caps, UW-Platteville's investment of caps for every student-athlete puts an exclamation point on the ever-growing, safety-first movement on the gridiron.

 

"As a department, we are committed to the safety and well-being of every student-athlete. Guardian Cap technology, and the data associated with its use, has continued to show tremendous health benefits for football student-athletes. The more our team of coaches and sports medicine officials discussed this, the more convinced we became that we needed to outfit every one of our football student-athletes with this cutting-edge product. I'm incredibly proud of each individual who helped bring this to fruition and know our student-athletes are being protected from undue harm to the very best of our ability. Though we are one of the very first NCAA Division III programs to make this investment, it is our sincere hope that others across the country will follow suit and replicate the model in their own right. From our lens, it truly is a no-brainer," said Athletic Director Mike Knipe.

 

Guardian Caps made their debut with a select few NFL teams during the 2021 season. The following year, the NFL mandated the use of the Guardian Caps in practices for certain position groups. The protective helmet coverings made such an immediate and substantial impact on the safety of the sport, it was not long before the technology trickled down to college sports and beyond. The upcoming 2024 season will also be the first season where NFL players can opt to wear the caps in games.

 

"Student-athlete safety is a top priority at UW-Platteville. Decreasing the level of impact in the game of football makes sense to me as former player and a current coach. If the Guardian Cap can help prevent just one concussion this season, it is worth it," said Head Coach Ryan Munz.

 

To read more data on Guardian Caps, click here to view a recent study in the National Library of Medicine.

 

Munz's Pioneers will kick off the 2024 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 7 at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium when they host Lakeland University at 6 p.m.