KUSA - Schools across Colorado are taking action after a 9Wants to Know investigation, which looked at concussion risk ratings for football helmets used by public high schools.
If you want to know what kind of helmets your high school is using, check out our interactive map. http://on9news.tv/1fDtyaD
Virginia tech researchers say the Adams A2000 Pro Elite rated so poorly on their impact tests that it is "not recommended" for use on the football field.
It received zero stars on the university's 5 Star Helmet Safety Ratings. The rating is supposed to reflect the helmet's ability to protect players from concussion.
Sixteen Colorado high schools told 9News last month they had Adams A2000 helmets. The Pinnacle High School in Federal Heights reported it had 30 of the helmets in its equipment room.
"It's very concerning that we have helmets in our possession that are zero starred. It makes us feel like we are not protecting our kids as well as we should," Pinnacle principal Todd Bittner said.
Bittner says he was not aware of Virginia Tech's testing, prior to the 9Wants to Know investigation. He says his school district is willing to spend thousands of dollars to replace the Adams helmets with other brands that received better impact ratings. Bittner says he wants to do all he can to prevent his players from getting head injuries.
"For someone who's sustained concussions as an athlete," said Bittner, a former ski racer, "I will tell you it does impact memory; it does impact the things that make our kids vital."
Since the helmet investigation first aired, 9Wants to Know heard from eight schools, including Pinnacle, that pledge their student will never wear the Adams helmets again. Several of those schools indicated they only kept the Adams helmets as spares, and those helmets were rarely used in recent seasons.
Officials from five more schools say they are currently evaluating what to do with the zero-star helmets. The other 3 schools have not said what they will do.
Adams USA no longer manufactures football helmets, after selling off that part of its business to Schutt Sports in 2011.
Here are summaries of responses from all 16 high schools that originally told 9News they had Adams A2000 Pro Elite football helmets:
The Pinnacle Charter School - This has been very helpful to us. We will be using the Schutt helmets (23) instead of Adams helmets (30) from now on. Did not know that the Adams helmets were not good, was not aware of the report.
Cotopaxi High School - All helmets being reconditioned now. Talking with superintendent about the possibility of buying new helmets to replace those [Adams A2000]. They are up for a few new helmets anyway. They want to look at the safety of student athletes.
Center High School - Adams A2000 are being phased out from our inventory. Since I have been head coach, I have made a conscious effort to purchase Xenith, Ions, and DNAs which are rated as 3 star and higher helmets. Now that I have the VT study to use, it will impact my buying behavior in regards to helmet purchases. The safety of our student-athletes is paramount.
Custer County High School - We had a very limited number of these helmets and most of the ones we had were not used. Nonetheless, we are planning to replace these helmets before the next football season.
Del Norte High School - We are replacing all Adams helmets. Intend to buy 10 new helmets this year and put them on a new rotation.
Florence High School - Don't currently use Adams helmets on any student. They were extras that were going unused. They discarded them all after 2013 season.
Hanover High School - It may be likely we haven't even used those [Adams A2000] helmets in the last couple of years as our roster hasn't been that big. Once we get them back from the reconditioning company, it would be prudent on our part to see how many we have left and look at cycling those out of our system this year if funds allow.
Jefferson High School - Have 2 Adams A2000 helmets. They are currently being reconditioned. When they are returned, the athletic director and coach will discuss what to do with them in the future.
Lamar High School - No response
Las Animas High School - The 2 Adams Helmets are in their last year of use. Their check-out record indicates they were checked out twice in their 7 years of service to kids that ended up quitting prior to contact.
Monte Vista High School - No response
Centauri High School - No response
Sierra Grande High School - As for Adams helmets, I'm pretty sure we don't have any left for High School. We did have some Adams for Junior High, but I can't check them right now because we sent them off to get reconditioned.
Springfield High School - I plan to sit down with my football coaches and have them review the study and NOCSAE report as well. We will then determine whether these two helmets should be removed. If we have any doubt as to the safety of the helmet they will be removed from the inventory.
Swink High School - They are getting rid of those [Adams A2000 helmets]
Walsh High School - Doesn't think anyone has used them in the last two or three years. I only have two them left, and I think they are too old to be reconditioned again. As a football coach I have looked at the different helmets and had seen the study that Virginia Tech did and that was one of the reasons I made the change to Riddell. To answer whether we would get rid of the Adams, I sure we will now.
An athletic director from the Douglas County School District also contacted 9News saying Ponderosa High School made a mistake on its list of helmets provided to 9News. Ponderosa now says it does not have any Riddell VSR4 helmets, which received one star from Virginia Tech.
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