Clermont, Fla. – East Ridge High School’s quarterback, Winston Bourgeois, is setting a new standard for player safety, becoming the first quarterback in Lake County to wear a guardian cap during games. Bourgeois, a senior standout for the Knights, has chosen to adopt the protective headgear typically used in practice as part of his game-day equipment, due to a concussion he had early in the season. “Bourgeois put in a reqest from his doctor to be able to use a guardian cap in the game. We got that approved and he wears them to help prevent from having a further concussion,” says head coach Donnie Burchfield.

(Bourgeois wearing the guardian cap. Note the difference and extra padding provided on the helmet.)

Guardian caps, soft-shell helmet covers designed to reduce impact forces, are gaining traction at various levels of football but are still rare during actual competition. For Bourgeois, the decision to wear one wasn’t difficult, especially after seeing rising concerns around concussions and head trauma in the sport but also since he suffered one himself. While it still might not be common place to see these on gameday, you could begin seeing them a lot more in the coming years.

(Winston has a history of concussions. He is one of the first quarterbacks to put a guardian cap on in Lake County.)

Head coach Donnie Burchfield says “We were encouraged to get a doctors note requesting the use for extra protection for Winston, considering his concussion history. We submitted it to the FHSAA and were able to get clearance. I expect in the next few years you’re going to see them a whole lot more.”

The guardian cap, which slips over the helmet and is designed to absorb and disperse impact, has been shown to reduce the force of collisions. While it is commonly used during practices to lessen the cumulative toll on players, using it in a game setting is still an emerging trend. Many players think it adds too much weight to the helmet and since it is not required most decide not to use them. They also look rather odd and although in the NFL, cap logos are provided for asthetics, in high school most school’s don’t have logos to cover the caps as of yet.

(Can you imagine this being approved today? The old Riddell Air helmets used to be thought of as top protection. This would be considered highly dangerous today. Almost no shock absorbers, minimal protection on the back. You can see why concussions were an issue with these things.)

(This is what is inside a 2024 Xenith Football helmet. Shock absorbers all over the place. Boy I wish we had this when I played. Technology has come a long way. Even still, you can get a concussion in these helmets which is why Guardian Caps are worn.)

Bourgeois’ decision to prioritize his safety adds a new dimension to his leadership, both on and off the field. While it might look strange, we only hope that helmets continue to improve player safety. Back when I played football the Riddell Air football helmet was the most advanced thing we had. Boy did I witness plenty of concussions in those things.. Luckily player safety has come a long way. The Riddell Speed Flex is now among the most common and updated versions. Hopefully helmets will continue to evolve and they won’t need guardian caps. Perhaps they can incorporate them into the shell of the helmet, but for now this safety device is going to become more common until another solution is invented.