Football, Fatherhood & the Fight for Safety
In the 2010s, the game of football found itself at a crossroads. With a surge in head injuries and growing concerns over their long-term effects, worries heightened amongst parents and youth rosters began to dwindle – sometimes even disappearing entirely.
But Al Nittoli, former head of Oakland Braves Youth Football in Oakland, New Jersey, refused to let his program fade away.
Determined to prioritize safety, he began implementing new strategies such as rugby tackling, rolling tackling dummies and custom-fitted mouthpieces. The final piece of the puzzle? A technology he had seen in action at his other coaching role with Bergen Catholic – Guardian Caps.
When Al brought forth the Guardian Caps proposal, borough officials looked back at him as if he had two heads.
The problem? Nobody knew what a Guardian Cap was or what it did. It was a bold ask in a sport notorious for its tradition.
But, after making his case, Al got the green light on Guardian Caps under one condition: the funds had to be pulled from another part of the program’s budget. So, Al decided to forgo new uniforms and invest in Guardian Caps instead.
Oakland became the first youth program in the state of New Jersey to use Guardian Caps – and they still use them to this day.
“At the end of the day, if we don’t have players, who cares how nice the uniforms are. There was a time when teams didn’t use sleds, tackling pads, or rolling bags – now they’re standard in every practice. Guardian Caps are just the next evolution. They’ve become the norm.”
Equip Your Team with the Best.
Coaching his son, Anthony, through much of his football journey made the Guardian story especially meaningful for Al.
Over time, Al watched his son’s passion for the game grow right in front of his eyes.
As a linebacker and running back, he was always first to the ball. Like most kids, if his friends were running through a wall, Anthony was right there with them – more than likely always leading the charge, head-first.
“Impacts over time, whether they’re to the head, the elbows, the knees, the hands, take their toll, especially on young kids – and Guardian is all about reducing those blows.”
And while his skills, schools and playbooks changed over time, one thing remained constant: the Guardian Cap, which Anthony has worn since second grade and will continue to wear for the next four years at the University of Chicago.
After coaching, Al segued into the sports equipment industry and sales world. Eventually, his life came full circle, and Al joined the sales force at Guardian Sports as the Northeast Sales Manager for Guardian Caps.
“My favorite part of the job is knowing how much I love this game and how much my son loves this game – and that at the end of the day, I’m doing whatever part I can to keep the game going.”
