Helmets, helmets, helmets
 

This is only marginally related to officiating, but, does anyone have a clue why helmets now routinely fly off the heads of players? 30 years ago many helmets had only 1 strap or; if two, located right at the chin. Now, there are two straps located all the way up on the head. You would think that the helmets would stay on better, but the opposite seems to be true.

That's an easy one. The rules state that the helmet must have a four point chin strap and that all four points must be connected. The rules say nothing about the helmet fitting correctly nor do they say anything about the chinstraps actually holding on to the chin.

Most of the players keep the chinstraps so loose that the chinstrap rests closer to the neck than the chin. They also like to keep the helmet loose so that it is easy to take off. Most programs don't take the time to fit the players properly nor are they pushed to. I think this needs to be a point of emphasis for the coaches because an improperly fitted helmet is almost as bad as no helmet at all. Additionally, if it is not fitted correctly it will not absorb an impact correctly which could lead to more brain injuries.

I have no study to back this up, just my observation as a player for 10 years and an official for another 10.

Then why, if Parepat's observation is correct, did helmets fit better before?

Helmet's didn't fit better before, I believe that players adjusted them properly before. I think that players are not wearing the helmets properly. They don't keep the helmet bladders inflated, they wear small jaw pads because it is more comfortable, and they don't have the chin straps tightened.

Then why did they adjust them properly before?

Because wearing them loose wasn't the cool thing to do. I played not that long ago and I don't remember a player's helmet coming off during play like they do now. Helmets have not changed very much at all from when I stopped playing to today. Most of us just wore them properly.

Part of it is hair styles. Look at Stephen Jackson of the Rams - his helmet routinely flies off. He's got more hair on him than an entire team of players from the 50's.

Then why didn't helmets fly off like crazy in the 1960s or 1970s?

good point Jim...LOL

I'm a football fan... not an official.... but I am in three other sports. I think they fly off more because players are much bigger, faster, and stronger, and now are hitting each other a heck of a lot harder than they used to. Just my 2 cents from the stands.

I'm not sure about that one. I don't remember ever seeing helmets flying off routinely when Lawrence Taylor, Ken Norton, Jr. or Ronnie Lott would lay some of those hits.

Good points. It makes sense that with the 4 point straps way up on the head it would be more difficult to remove a properly fitted helmet. THe speed that this issue has arisen leads me to believe that this is not a result of changes in the game, but rather the way that the helmets are fitted or worn.

I know when I played, you had to stick your fingers in the earholes of the helmet and pull outward, then up to get the helmet off. There wasn't any wiggle room allowed. We had a coach whose job it was before summer practice to fit everybody's helmet properly.