Helmet Reconditioning and Recertification Explained
Every season TVPW, and thousands of other youth football organizations, begin the season long before the first the pair of cleats hit the dry dirt of an August football field. It all starts with planning, organization and safety. Safety is paramount in every phase of Pop Warner football, and a vital part of safety is having quality equipment. TVPW provides all the necessary safety equipment in player registration fees necessary to play the game. In oder to keep equipment in peak condition for 300 youth athletes, while keeping registrations affordable, reconditioning and re-certifying helmets is an important part of Temecula Valley Pop Warner's preseason preparation. And if you own your own helmet - this article is important to the care and safety of your player. In this post, our friends at Riddell explain the process and benefits of having your helmet reconditioned and re-certified according to the standards set by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE).
Who is the NOCSAE and Why Should You Care?
Their mission (as stated on their website): "The mission of the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) is to commission research in sports medicine and science and establish standards for athletic equipment, where feasible. In its efforts in this field, the Committee fosters and encourages the dissemination of information on research findings on athletic equipment, injury data, and other closely related areas of inquiry through the organizations represented on the NOCSAE Board of Directors, and other entities in the fields of athletic and sports medicine."
Image source: http://nocsae.org/
You should care because the NOCSAE has created performance standards for equipment manufacturers to continue to improve the safety in sports. These standards include the inspection, reconditioning and recertification process accepted by Pop Warner Football. The most renown and respected helmet manufacturers not only recognize these standards, but they are also authorized members certified in reconditioning and recertification. This includes companies like Riddell - the same brand name you see on NFL helmets every Sunday in the fall. So whether you need your helmet, cleaned, repainted, or recertified, you can rest assured that Riddell will thoroughly recondition your equipment to NOCSAE standards.
The Process
Our friends at Riddell have a great overview of this rigorous 9-step process on their website, complete with contact information and instructions on how to send your personal helmet for reconditioning and recertification. They also have this great video detailing the process.
In addition to Riddell, there are 22 additional approved reconditioning members found on the NAERA website. So before you decide to take apart or repaint your helmet - put the screwdriver down and paint can back on the shelf! Think safety first...We Do!
Click on the image above for a print-friendly PDF on helmet reconditioning and recertification from Riddell.