Perfection is the Enemy of Progress

Erin Hanson, co-founder and CEO of Guardian Sports, knew starting a sports safety company was going to be anything but easy, but she did it anyway. A mother of five and grandmother of ten, Hanson launched Guardian Sports at 45 years old, realizing that the equipment offered in youth sports hadn’t kept pace with growing scientific knowledge about the risks of contact play. What began as a mission to protect kids evolved into a sports safety revolution.

A Safer Future, One Product at a Time

Over the past 14 years, Guardian Sports has released a suite of products designed to enhance both athlete performance and safety. Their flagship innovation, the Guardian Cap, reduces impact and redirects rotational forces. Since 2010, Guardian has released PEARL Lacrosse Balls, Guardian Chinstrap, LOOP, and Infill.

GUARDIAN CAPS

The Guardian Cap is the leading soft-shell helmet cover designed to reduce impact. Adding a padded outer layer to the traditional hard-shell helmet helps lessen the force of daily hits. Initially created for youth athletes, the Guardian Cap has since become standard across every level of play, including widespread adoption in the NFL and top college programs nationwide.

“Every single Cap means something,” said Hanson. “This mission was too important to fail.”

In 2022, the NFL began requiring Guardian Caps during practices, resulting in more than a 50% drop in practice-related concussions. The league later expanded the rule to include all players in contact practices, with the exception of quarterbacks, punters, and kickers. By 2024, Guardian Caps were cleared for game day use. Today, more than 500,000 athletes wear Guardian Caps—from youth leagues to the professional ranks.

PEARL LACROSSE BALLS

PEARL lacrosse balls are widely recognized as a top choice for players and programs because of their consistent performance, durability, and safety. Dissatisfied with standard rubber lacrosse balls that grease and harden over time, Guardian Sports re-engineered the lacrosse ball to improve performance, consistency, and safety. Unlike traditional balls that can harden or become “greasers” over time, PEARL balls are designed to maintain their grip and feel longer, ensuring reliable handling during practices and games. Trusted to be the official ball of the PLL, WLL, NCAA, MCLA & more. PEARL lacrosse balls provide athletes with a dependable option that supports skill development and high-level competition while also minimizing the risk of inconsistencies on the field.

GUARDIAN CHINSTRAP

The Guardian Chinstrap is the first-ever safety chinstrap developed by Guardian Sports and SoftShox. Designed to enhance player protection, this innovative chistrap incorporates advanced impact-absorbing technology, setting a new standard in helmet safety. As the creators of the widely adopted Guardian Cap, Guardian Sports continues to push the boundaries of sports safety, now touching on all impacts. 50% of impacts occur to the facemask, where today’s helmets underperform.

This chinstrap delivers a superior combination of comfort, fit, and impact reduction, giving athletes an extra layer of defense where it matters most. Built with advanced hydraulic suspension technology, the chinstrap blends the cushioning feel of a waterbed with the shock-absorbing power of engineered fluid displacement. It reduces HARM (Head Acceleration Response Metric) up to 35% more than competitors.

LOOP

The LOOP was built to better protect where it matters most. Guardian Sports and Schutt teamed up to advance athlete safety through innovation and performance.

The LOOP is a versatile, multi-sport soft-shell headgear that delivers advanced protection without sacrificing comfort or practicality. Earning a 5-Star Virginia Tech helmet rating, it’s proven to reduce both linear and rotational forces. The LOOP is soft enogh to stay comfortable but engineered to control energy from a wide rangs of impacts, while also featuring sweat wicking material to help regulate temperature.

The LOOP 2.0’s re-engineered occipital hinge fit protects one of the head’s most vulnerable areas while staying lightweight and comfortable. Designed to stay secure without compromising style, so you can focus on your game.

GUARDIAN INFILL

Cooling field throughout North America since 2016.

Guardian Turf Systems are built to solve the toughest challenges in synthetic turf—heat, safety, and long-term performance. Developed with leading turf engineers, our Guardian Infill keeps fields cooler, safer, and more consistent for athletes at every level. With a 20-year warranty, schools and teams can confidently trust our Infill to last the full lifecycle of your field, making it the smart investment for owners and coaches who value safety, durability, and lasting performance.

Astropad – In addition to Infill, Guardian Sports created Astropad, a top-rated shock-absorbing turf psd system sold exclusively by Astroturf. Engineered to promote effective evaporative cooling, water drainage, and sustainable chemistries, the Shock Pad ensures safe surface temperatures and compatibility with existing systems.