Siegel among first schools with sensors in helmets monitoring hits

MURFREESBORO — A season after one of its players sustained a severe head trauma, Siegel's football team will start this year as the first high school program in Middle Tennessee to use technology from Riddell to help monitor how much head impact its players sustain in practices and games.

Siegel recently began using Riddell's InSite Response System, which monitors contact to the head. The technology includes multiple sensors that are inserted in a helmet. Those sensors give alerts when significant hits to the helmet are sustained.

There are 18 high schools across the state that use the Riddell system and two college teams — Bethel and Cumberland — according to information from Riddell.

"Everybody is trying to get the head out of the game," Siegel coach Greg Wyant said. "I think it's another tool that allows us to look at individual players and be able to adjust as coaches how we are coaching that kid or adjust how that kid is taking on drills."

The helmets sync up to a handheld device that Siegel athletic trainer Joe Bowker carries with him. The helmets can be set to different impact thresholds depending on what position the athlete plays. An offensive lineman or linebacker has a different threshold than a wide receiver or quarterback.

The device alerts Bowker if a significant hit occurs.

"Not every kid that has an impact will have a concussion," Bowker said. "We can then check the kid. We may catch some symptoms. This allows us a chance to go take a look at an athlete. A lot of times an athlete won't say anything to the coach or trainer when they get a hard hit."

The technology is still relatively new. It's been available since the 2014 season.

Due to cost, Siegel purchased 28 new Riddell SpeedFlex helmets equipped with the Insite technology. Wyant said of those 28 helmets, parents purchased about 10 for their sons. He said the helmet and Insite technology costs more than $400 apiece.

Helmets normally cost around $260-$280, Wyant said.

"We ordered as many as we felt like we could financially handle," Wyant said. "We tried to put them on more of our high-impact kids in the program, and had about 10 parents order them.

"We felt like we had to do something. We're going to test this year to see how it works and see if we can use this technology. If it's beneficial, we'll order more helmets every year."

The decision comes a season after Baylor Bramble sustained a severe head injury on Oct. 23 at Warren County. He is recovering from the injury at home in Murfreesboro after spending several months in hospitals.

"You know, we've always been on the cutting edge to find ways to protect our players," Wyant said. "We want them and their parents to feel safe about playing football."

But Wyant said Siegel did not order the helmets because of what happened to Bramble.

Siegel was one of the first schools in Rutherford County to begin concussion baseline testing football athletes. Siegel also has used guardian caps — a soft shell that goes over helmets — the past couple seasons to help lessen impacts from helmets during practice.

"I think our sport gets a bad rap," Wyant said. "I want our kids, our parents and the people in our community to know that we're about our kids and keeping our kids as safe as possible.

"You can't play football without players. And if you don't take care of your players, you are not going to have a football team. Ultimately, it's about the kids and protecting them Friday night to be able to play — and even protecting them on Friday night."

Siegel parent Camille Sears purchased a helmet for her son, who is a freshman football player.

"We know it doesn't prevent concussions," Sears said. "It's more of a way for the coaches to be aware of how much of an impact they are taking to their head. This can be used to guide their practices."

Bowker agrees. However, it is another step in helping reducing the risk.

"There is no foolproof way of stopping concussions," Bowker said. "Football is a violent contact sport. You are never going to eliminate them 100 percent."

Wyant said the technology also allows him to change practice drills if he sees that they are producing more impact issues.

Siegel parent Maria Johnson, who purchased a helmet for her son, was pleased that the coaching staff is using this technology.

"I am thankful that the coaches and trainers are using these helmets to try and prevent our young athletes from sustaining traumatic head injuries," Johnson said. "There are risks in many sports, however, having these helmets now available for football gives me some peace of mind as a parent."

Siegel began using the technology this past week when the Stars began practice in helmets and shoulder pads. Bowker said there was already one athlete who had a sensor pick up a hit in the front portion of the helmet.

That allowed Bowker and the coaches to use it as a teaching tool as it likely occurred from the athlete lowering his head on a tackle.

"I think it's going to be a great tool," Bowker said. "It'll be good not just for me, but for coaches, too. Techniques aren't always the best. And if a certain part of practice produces too many hits, they can back it off.

"I think this will improve the communication from the athletic trainer and the coaching staff."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 and on Twitter @Kreager.

Who has it?

Twenty Tennessee high schools and colleges are using the Insite technology since it started in 2014 according to Riddell. Siegel High School is the lone high school in Middle Tennessee.

The list includes: Bearden, Carter, CAK, Chuckey-Doak, Daniel Boone, Gibbs, Greenback, Jefferson County, Maryville, Northview Academy, Oakdale, Oliver Springs, Sevier County, Kings Academy, Lexington, Sale Creek, Siegel, Webb School, Bethel College and Cumberland University.