Trusted By Those Who Know Best: Guardian Cap Moms
Growing up, Guardian Sports CEO Erin Hanson watched football like most of us – big hits and the crack of a contact between two helmets was, well, just a part of the game.
However, when her own son, Jake, stepped onto the football field for the first time, her view of the game changed.
“It’s crazy how your perspective on football changes when it’s your son playing. I was raised watching football, listening to fans cheer for those big hits. But it’s a whole different thing when it’s your son going helmet to helmet with another player – that’s when that loud crack takes on a whole new meaning.”
In 2011, Erin and her husband, Lee, founded Guardian Sports with one goal: to innovate protective equipment and better serve athletes at every level.
With 20+ years of experience in material science, Erin and Lee set out to advance technologies, bridging the gap between the products athletes need/deserve and what is currently available on the market.
Guardian Caps are not only trusted by athletes but are also backed by those who know best – Moms.
When Mary Stuart Ratledge accompanied her son, Tate, during a visit to Calhoun High School to deliver Guardian Caps to the Yellow Jackets, she couldn’t help but get emotional when talking about the long-term benefits of Guardian Caps.
“As a mom, it can never be enough to have more protection. The protection that it [Guardian Caps] offers him is so much more.”
Tate, who was selected 57th overall by the Detroit Lions in this year’s NFL Draft, wore Guardian Caps during his four years as a standout offensive lineman at the University of Georgia.
“The name and the game of the league is longevity, so I think doing everything you can to increase that is always a positive thing, and I think [Guardian Caps] does exactly that.”
Christine Davidson didn’t let her boys play football until middle school due to concerns over injuries, but when she saw how much they loved the game, Guardian Caps helped put her mind at ease.
“It just gives me so much more peace of mind as a mom. It scares me, you know, the injuries. But, the boys love football, so anything that protects them more to play the game they love is a huge blessing.”
Guardian Caps, which have been used by Clemson since the early 2010s, are one-size-fits-all, lightweight, easy to attach, customizable and reduce radiant heat by up to 20 degrees.
While Reese Vandiver may be “a small kid” compared to others on his youth team, there’s no doubt that he’s mighty as a defensive player. According to his mom, Devin, “Reese was tackling before he could even walk. Tackling is his heart and his soul.”
“If Reese has a Guardian Cap on, it gives me that extra security blanket as a mom to make me feel good about what he’s doing out there on the field. I know that I can confidently let him go out there, enjoy the game and be a boy.”
Officially hitting football fields in 2012, the Guardian Cap introduced soft-shell technology designed to reduce impact and redirect rotational forces during collisions. Since then, Guardian Caps have become a staple for football, hockey and lacrosse programs across the country.
Now, more than 500,000 youth, high school and college athletes nationwide have adopted the usage of Guardian Caps into their practices and even into their games. Since 2022, the NFL has mandated the use of Guardian Caps for nearly all positions in every contact practice and, as of 2024, permitted their use in games.
Concerned about the safety of her boys on the field, Angelena Swords Brocato set out to raise money for Guardian Caps.
Within just two weeks, she had raised nearly $6,000. That was enough to outfit not only her own boys but the entire Patterson High School football team and the PJHS squad with Guardian Caps, totaling 105 protective caps.
At Guardian Sports, family is at the heart of everything that we do. Two of Erin’s daughters, Caitlin and Alex, are not only key members of the Guardian team — they’re also proud moms, valuing safety and innovation for athletes of all ages. Here’s what they had to say about being Guardian Moms:
“Being a mom gives you a whole new lens on safety. At Guardian, I’m proud to help bring products to life that I would trust for my own child. It’s more than a job — it’s personal.”
“As a mom and a member of the Guardian team, I get to blend passion and purpose every day. It’s empowering to know the work we do helps protect athletes —especially the little ones like mine just starting out. Seeing my own kids on the field makes our mission hit home even more. I want them to be safe, confident, and able to enjoy the game.”
From youth leagues to the pros, Guardian Caps have become more than just another piece of equipment – they represent a movement toward safer play, powered by innovation, science, and the voices of parents, coaches and supporters who want to protect the athletes they love.
