West Virginia Advances Soft-Shell Helmet Mandate

The Cohen Craddock Student-Athlete Safety Act (Senate Bill 585)

CHARLESTON, WV – On March 5^th, 2025, Guardian Sports owners Erin and Lee Hanson met with Senator Michael Stuart, Ryan Craddock, and West Virginia legislators to introduce a bill to mandate soft-shell helmets and prioritize West Virginia athletes’ safety. Senator Stuart is working to implement a requirement for high school football players across West Virginia to wear soft-shell helmet covers, like the Guardian Cap, in addition to helmets during practice. Senator Stuart introduced the Cohen Craddock Student-Athlete Safety Act (Senate Bill 585) on February 24th, establishing a Student-Athlete Safety Advisory Committee to oversee helmet safety and related equipment, mandating the use of soft-shell helmet covers across the state. This bill is named in honor of Cohen Craddock, a Boone County middle school football player who tragically passed away in August due to head injuries sustained during practice.

“We have the ability and the chance to make a big difference not only for Cohen Craddock and his family but for kids similarly situated across the country.”

Michael Stuart, West Virginia Senator

“We want to do anything we can to enhance the bill, to make it something that will keep our kids safe and reduce the risk of injury in West Virginia for our student-athletes.”

David Price, Executive Director of the WVSSAC

“Parents are concerned, and if we can make this sport safer, it will benefit everyone. There are other communities that are struggling and they also have football teams. I want to ensure that every student has access to.”

Joseph McNamara, Rhode Island State Representative

With a growing focus on football safety, other states like Rhode Island and California have also introduced legislation to either mandate or allow soft-shell technology for their athletes.

One of the most widely used options is the Guardian Cap, which has been on the market since 2012 and has been mandated by the NFL since 2022. The league reported a 52% reduction in concussions for positions required to wear the Cap during the mandated period compared to the previous three-year average. Guardian Caps provide an extra padded layer on hard-shell helmets, helping to reduce and redirect impact forces. Additionally, lighter-colored caps can reduce radiant heat by up to 20 degrees fahrenheit. With growing momentum behind protective headgear at all levels of football, West Virginia’s proposed bill could mark a significant step forward in player safety.

“I agree with this bill, and I’d really like to see it passed…because not only will it help kids for not only West Virginia but hopefully, we can set a mandate and standard for the nation to follow. We are doing nothing but trying to protect our kids with this added layer of protection.”

Ryan Craddock, Cohen's Father

“We’re honored to be working alongside Senator Michael Stuart and Ryan Craddock to ensure athletes in West Virginia can play the sport they love in the safest way possible.

Erin Hanson, CEO and Founder of Guardian Sports

In the News

Sports Illustrated | Read More Here

Athletic Equipment Managers Association | Read More Here

News and Sentinel | Read More Here

Wheeling News-Register | Read More Here

MetroNews | Read More Here

**No helmet, practice apparatus, headband, helmet pad, or chinstrap can prevent or eliminate the risk of concussions or other serious head injuries while playing sports. Researchers have not reached an agreement on how the results of impact absorption tests relate to concussions. No conclusions about a reduction of risk or severity of concussive injury should be drawn from impact absorption tests.