**Urgent** Need your help for questions on hockey helmets

Hello,

I am an industrial design student working on a school project consisting of redesigning a hockey helmet. I need your help in this redesign of a hockey helmet. Here is a short list of questions that I'd like to get your opinion on. Parents opinions are greatly appreciated as well. If you cannot answer a question it is ok.

1. Are Players paid to wear companies helmets?

2. What do you think of the protection helmets provide today?

3. What types of injuries are there concerning hockey helmets? How frequent are they?

4. How do parents feel about hockey and their child playing this sport?

5. Are there more injuries among younger player vs. older players?

6. Do young players buy their helmets because they see their favorite pro player with the same one or for personal reasons (i.e. comfort, style, protection or price)?

7. Where do you think hockey helmets fail?

8. Are there complaints about transport or storage of the helmet?

9. When purchasing a helmet what influenced you (i.e. price, style, protection, etc)?
Thank you for your participation in giving me your opinions on these questions.

Nick :)

I'm gonna address this issue, but in no specific order:
First off I reff hockey and I play college roller hockey, so I've seen my fair share of head injuries. The most common seems to be from players improperly wearing helmets or wearing really crappy ones. The new helmets today provide enough protection to withstand very hard impacts. In one of my games this season I was tripped chasing puck in the corner and went head first into boards without being able to get my arms up. The impact was so violent everyone thought i was dead, haha. I only recieved a gash on my forhead where my helmet pressed into my head. Case and point, I didn't suffer a major concussion or head injury because my helmet was properly fitted to my head. When I picked my helmet out I chose a Bauer because it is one of the best on the market, plus it is HECC approved. Without the HECC approval some helmets are deemed unwearable in most leagues. Hockey is one sport where I refuse so pinch pennys and buy cheaper equipment, because for the most part you pay for what you get. More $$, means better quality and more protection.

If you would like be to add or expand on anything let me know, hope that helped

Hello,

I am an industrial design student working on a school project consisting of redesigning a hockey helmet. I need your help in this redesign of a hockey helmet. Here is a short list of questions that I'd like to get your opinion on. Parents opinions are greatly appreciated as well. If you cannot answer a question it is ok.

1. Are Players paid to wear companies helmets?
2. What do you think of the protection helmets provide today?
3. What types of injuries are there concerning hockey helmets? How frequent are they?
4. How do parents feel about hockey and their child playing this sport?
5. Are there more injuries among younger player vs. older players?
6. Do young players buy their helmets because they see their favorite pro player with the same one or for personal reasons (i.e. comfort, style, protection or price)?
7. Where do you think hockey helmets fail?
8. Are there complaints about transport or storage of the helmet?
9. When purchasing a helmet what influenced you (i.e. price, style, protection, etc)?
Thank you for your participation in giving me your opinions on these questions.
Nick :)I have coached minor hockey for over 10 years. When I started playing as a kid, a toque was considered head protection! Both my sons have played, so I will answer your questions from those perspectives.

1. As far as I know, only pros are paid to endorse equipment. There may be instances where an elite team may get sponsored by an equipment maker but generally speaking, equipment is a personal choice.

2. When properly fitted, I think helmets provide adequate protection. They should fit snugly on the head, about 1/2 inch above the brow, with chin strap securely fastened. You get what you pay for. The worse is when a parent will buy an oversized helmet that the kid will grow into. BIG NO-NO.

3. Most head injuries I have witnessed occured because the helmet was improperly fitted. Usually, the player will wear it "fliped" up to look "cool" i.e. higher on the head and a very loose chin strap. The worse injury I have seen in this case was a grade 3 concussion. I have seen several collissions with the boards where a properly fitted helmet has saved the day. The worst injury in these instances was a sore neck. That is not to say that a properly fitted helmet will always avert serious injury, I just haven't witnessed any.

4. My view is that the risk in hockey is the same as the risk of flying in a plane. You know something could happen but probably won't. The most serious injuries my sons have suffered were a sprained ankle, bruises, and pulled muscles.

5. check out this link for a lot of stats on hockey injuries.
http://www.injuryresearch.bc.ca/Publications/Fact%20Sheets/IceHockey%20fact%20sheet.pdf (http://www.injuryresearch.bc.ca/Publications/Fact%20Sheets/IceHockey%20fact%20sheet.pdf) A google search for "hockey injuries" will yield you tons of hits. Also helmet manufacturer websites will provide a lot of details about their helmet designs.

6. I can't speak for others, but my kids have always worn either Cooper or Bauer because they fit and are comfortable. It really is a matter of fit and comfort. My kids or I couldn't tell you what helmet our favourite players wear.

7. The most common failure I have seen is cracks where the adjustment screws go in, typically a result of tightening the adjustment screws too tight. The foam interior tends to get hard and brittle after about 2 years and requires replacing the entire helmet (some type of changeable insert would be beneficial in your design). Cages tend to get bent after getting hit by a puck and need to be replaced.

8. They are bulky in a bag, but not more so than shoulder pads or pants. We usually stuff elbow pads and socks in them to save space.

9. Fit first. Then we shop around for the best deal on that model. Just bought a Bauer helmet that was on sale for $40 at one store but was $60 everywhere else.

Hope this helps. Good luck on your project.