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Its Harder To See Wearing A Helmet Than Many Realize

A

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
I was looking at photos of Aaron Lewis in a helmet and I was reminded just how awful vision can be.
As a fan vs a player, I was always aware of how hard it is to see things helmeted in a game vs on seeing things on TV

The brim really sticks out a lot and makes it hard to see anything higher up.
Have your hand in the dirt (stance) and look-up and you wont see unrestricted.
Sprinting downfield as a WR and DB can make the helmet wobble, and then turning to look-up and back can be really hard - really hard.

Peripheral vision can be hard as well with cages and plastic close to side of eyes.
I often marveled how WR and DBs even saw some of the balls they caught.
That is a skill in itself






Studies have confirmed this vision restriction

"Previous reports investigating protective football headgear, albeit outdated, reported an impaired visual field while wearing a football helmet and facemask . Although the present study did not specifically map visual field impairments, our results are in agreement with these findings in that subjects were not able to respond to peripheral stimuli as fast while wearing football headgear. Indeed, previous evidence mapping peripheral vision impairments has shown a decreased ability to conduct motor tasks."

 
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R

RUScrew85

Heisman
Nov 7, 2003
30,054
16,939
0
ashokan said:
I was looking at photos of Aaron Lewis in a helmet and I was reminded just how awful vision can be.
As a fan vs a player, I was always aware of how hard it is to see things helmeted in a game vs on seeing things on TV

The brim really sticks out a lot and makes it hard to see anything higher up.
Have your hand in the dirt (stance) and look-up and you wont see unrestricted.
Sprinting downfield as a WR and DB can make the helmet wobble, and then turning to look-up and back can be really hard - really hard.

Peripheral vision can be hard as well with cages and plastic close to side of eyes.
I often marveled how WR and DBs even saw some of the balls they caught.
That is a skill in itself






Studies have confirmed this vision restriction

"Previous reports investigating protective football headgear, albeit outdated, reported an impaired visual field while wearing a football helmet and facemask . Although the present study did not specifically map visual field impairments, our results are in agreement with these findings in that subjects were not able to respond to peripheral stimuli as fast while wearing football headgear. Indeed, previous evidence mapping peripheral vision impairments has shown a decreased ability to conduct motor tasks."

Click to expand...

So go back to leather helmets?
 
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R

RU to the Core

Senior
Sep 29, 2006
2,050
629
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Deion sanders would change helmets for offense and defense bc the bars on the side of his defensive helmet impacted his vision when he had to look back and catch balls.
 
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ScarletDave

ScarletDave

Heisman
Oct 7, 2010
34,389
14,999
85
It’s true. Most people on here wouldnt be able to drive for 3 days wearing a formal helmet without getting into an accident
 
A

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
RU to the Core said:
Deion sanders would change helmets for offense and defense bc the bars on the side of his defensive helmet impacted his vision when he had to look back and catch balls.
Click to expand...

I can easily understand doing that.
People who yell about DBs not turning might not know the DB might not even see a ball thats close.
One thing WRs do to catch long, high passes caught in front is to put their arms out AND up.

People who dont know how to catch long passes in front of them often put their arms straight out and the ball bounces off. Cradle the arms up and you have a scoop - you can catch balls you might not see well.

Look at guy in pic below and see he's catching properly while his eyes aren't even on the ball.
I saw a pro DB in a game today lose an INT because he used flat arms and not the high scoop




 
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N

NickRU714

Heisman
Aug 18, 2009
13,604
12,367
0
But someone said a QB can throw just as much the other 352 days of the year and develop. No need to throw on actual game days. No need for the OC to actually call pass plays during games.

This helmet item, combined with HC Schiano himself saying performing in a game is different than developing in practice - really amazed that people still defend our overall offensive strategy of minimal in game passing while also expecting QB development.
 
R

RU206

All-American
Jan 23, 2015
5,013
5,025
113
WhiteBus said:
OMG. Seriously! None of you wore a helmet before??
Click to expand...
The way some of these jokers preach on this board, I find it hard to believe that they never played. Not even Pop Warner.

Some of these comments make perfect sense now.
 
T

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,210
13,238
93
RUScrew85 said:
Bike helmets don't count. ; )
Click to expand...
I remember I couldn’t wear my googles with Bike helmets so I was stuck wearing those OLD Riddell helmets, which was painful. Went back to Bikes when they first started selling those dark visors at Modells.
 
P

PSU_Nut_rivals17625

All-Conference
May 29, 2001
14,642
2,609
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tico brown said:
I remember I couldn’t wear my googles with Bike helmets so I was stuck wearing those OLD Riddell helmets, which was painful. Went back to Bikes when they first started selling those dark visors at Modells.
Click to expand...
I remember when they banned the shields and you had to have medical paperwork in order to wear one.
 
M

Morrischiano2

All-American
Dec 3, 2019
5,956
7,718
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ashokan said:
I was looking at photos of Aaron Lewis in a helmet and I was reminded just how awful vision can be.
As a fan vs a player, I was always aware of how hard it is to see things helmeted in a game vs on seeing things on TV

The brim really sticks out a lot and makes it hard to see anything higher up.
Have your hand in the dirt (stance) and look-up and you wont see unrestricted.
Sprinting downfield as a WR and DB can make the helmet wobble, and then turning to look-up and back can be really hard - really hard.

Peripheral vision can be hard as well with cages and plastic close to side of eyes.
I often marveled how WR and DBs even saw some of the balls they caught.
That is a skill in itself






Studies have confirmed this vision restriction

"Previous reports investigating protective football headgear, albeit outdated, reported an impaired visual field while wearing a football helmet and facemask . Although the present study did not specifically map visual field impairments, our results are in agreement with these findings in that subjects were not able to respond to peripheral stimuli as fast while wearing football headgear. Indeed, previous evidence mapping peripheral vision impairments has shown a decreased ability to conduct motor tasks."

Click to expand...
Thanks captain obvious.
 
T

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,210
13,238
93
PSU_Nut said:
I remember when they banned the shields and you had to have medical paperwork in order to wear one.
Click to expand...
This is in 89 when they first came out when the NFL had players doing the DARTH VADER look. Ironically this was perfect for me because I need prescription shades/transitions because of my eyes. They started banning dark shields in mid 90s for EMT reasons.
 
N

NightKnight

All-Conference
Jul 21, 2008
3,174
1,552
68
I remember getting a cage facemask and thinking, "Great. Now I can't see anything." And of course one size was squeeze-your-eyeballs too tight and the next size up was for someone from Easter Island. Coach advised me to go with the too small helmet and it was murder on my ears to put it on/take it off on cold days. Of course, we practiced and played in the same helmets.
 
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RU206

All-American
Jan 23, 2015
5,013
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113
tico brown said:
I remember I couldn’t wear my googles with Bike helmets so I was stuck wearing those OLD Riddell helmets, which was painful. Went back to Bikes when they first started selling those dark visors at Modells.
Click to expand...
Did you have rec specs?
 
G

GoodOl'Rutgers

Heisman
Sep 11, 2006
123,974
19,584
0
I do think football would be better with less pads and bike-helm like helmets.. no use of the hat in tackling.. RBs cannot lower their heads to ram either. Basically make it like rugby with American football rules.

I honestly believe it does not need the high speed collisions. The running and passing and blocking could all be the same and the bike helmets would protect from striking the ground/turf. Oh.. no more field turf either.. all grass. Tackling would all be rugby style and would work because there'd be no reason for a ball carrier to lower their heads.
 
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T

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,210
13,238
93
GoodOl'Rutgers said:
I do think football would be better with less pads and bike-helm like helmets.. no use of the hat in tackling.. RBs cannot lower their heads to ram either. Basically make it like rugby with American football rules.

I honestly believe it does not need the high speed collisions. The running and passing and blocking could all be the same and the bike helmets would protect from striking the ground/turf. Oh.. no more field turf either.. all grass. Tackling would all be rugby style and would work because there'd be no reason for a ball carrier to lower their heads.
Click to expand...
Totally agree with this. That Seahawk DT whose name escape me, had the right idea as he wore those small, Toys R Us pads. And I do see today’s kids wear smaller pads, compared to the ones worn in 80s/ 90s. But the kids on all levels does the Shoulder/Forearm kill shot most of the time instead of properly wrapping up and taking the runner down.

I can’t really complain about the helmets because you got to have protection there. But at least there not many old school Linemen cage facemasks around these days
 
T

tico brown

Heisman
Oct 16, 2005
43,210
13,238
93
RU205 said:
Did you have rec specs?
Click to expand...
Yep. And had to work all spring/summer to pay back my folks for that. All thanks to a fight I had during a game. I wish I didn’t get flipped over and dude stuck his whole finger inside my eyeball.
 
Y

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
121,560
37,202
113
GoodOl'Rutgers said:
I do think football would be better with less pads and bike-helm like helmets.. no use of the hat in tackling.. RBs cannot lower their heads to ram either. Basically make it like rugby with American football rules.

I honestly believe it does not need the high speed collisions. The running and passing and blocking could all be the same and the bike helmets would protect from striking the ground/turf. Oh.. no more field turf either.. all grass. Tackling would all be rugby style and would work because there'd be no reason for a ball carrier to lower their heads.
Click to expand...
The outer protection has a purpose but the long term damage may be more significant because of it. Right now- you have guys going at full speed with no worry of a "damn that hurt" to have them slow it up a bit. You have RB's putting their head down to go through a guy instead of OOB's. And while it may stop some significant bruising, pain and some concussions- it does not slow down gravity. Your internal organs and even your brain- are not protected by anything you create on the outside. And it is worse- since you may not be feeling it or it doesnt show up on an xray, you are back out there the next week even if your internal body and brain may be impacted.
Less protection actually make the hits less hard.
 
G

GoodOl'Rutgers

Heisman
Sep 11, 2006
123,974
19,584
0
You know.. I think I may have to backtrack and disagree with myself.

The hard helmet and facemask came about because of DEATHS on the field with forehead smashes to faces.


But if we pair teh idea of never using the head as a runner or tackler.. and we had bike helmets.. it might work.. plus any strikes to a face getting instant video review...

Hmmm.... that might work in college and NFL.. but what about peewee and HS? Hmm..

Not sure there's a way to do it.
 
G

GoodOl'Rutgers

Heisman
Sep 11, 2006
123,974
19,584
0
RU76 said:
Some fans wear tinfoil helmets and see all.
Click to expand...
Don't you have a quarterback to defend with more nonsense?
RU76 said:
A little comparison:

Wimsatt has thrown about 350 passes with 13 interceptions so far in his carrer. Mike Teel who was great for us threw 23 interceptions in his first 2 seasons with about 400 attempts. Teel finished with 49 interceptions over his career. Mike had a lot of tools to work with. Not sure Gavin has the same level of support and I suspect comparatively speaking our opposition now is stronger than we faced back then.

There is no reason to think now that Gavin who is still only 19 will not improve as his career unfolds. Let's enjoy the ride.

YearSchoolConfClassPosGCmpAttPctYdsY/AAY/ATDIntRate
*2005RutgersBig EastFRQB95110150.56836.82.721094.0
*2006RutgersBig EastSOQB1316429655.421357.26.01213120.6
*2007RutgersBig EastJRQB1320334958.231479.08.52013145.4
*2008RutgersBig EastSRQB1324339661.434188.68.42513148.1
Click to expand...
 
A

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
I was watching a YT vid about Sam Huff and he described playing DL with his hand in the dirt and only being able to see the player across from him. When he was made a LB he was thrilled with how much he could see,

"It was such a beautiful thing for me!"

1:00 in




 
A

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
yesrutgers01 said:
The outer protection has a purpose but the long term damage may be more significant because of it. Right now- you have guys going at full speed with no worry of a "damn that hurt" to have them slow it up a bit. You have RB's putting their head down to go through a guy instead of OOB's. And while it may stop some significant bruising, pain and some concussions- it does not slow down gravity. Your internal organs and even your brain- are not protected by anything you create on the outside. And it is worse- since you may not be feeling it or it doesnt show up on an xray, you are back out there the next week even if your internal body and brain may be impacted.
Less protection actually make the hits less hard.
Click to expand...

Minimizing head collision impact makes sense.
My only concern would be when you are on the ground and 340lb players are falling on your head.
Little things like that are sneaky.

The worst helmet hits players take are often from a runner knees hitting a helmet while a player is on the ground. I had some wicked collisions with a plastic helmet "thwack" that got reactions from crowds but nothing dinged more than laying low and catching a runner's knee in the head.

I also think "QB Hits" should be dropped from official stats since that incentivizes blasting QBs for stats
 
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Y

yesrutgers01

Heisman
Nov 9, 2008
121,560
37,202
113
ashokan said:
Minimizing head collision impact makes sense.
My only concern would be when you are on the ground and 340lb players are falling on your head.
Little things like that are sneaky.

The worst helmet hits players take are often from a runner knees hitting a helmet while a player is on the ground. I had some wicked collisions with a plastic helmet "thwack" that got reactions from crowds but nothing dinged more than laying low and catching a runner's knee in the head.

I also think "QB Hits" should be dropped from official stats since that incentivizes blasting QBs for stats
Click to expand...
Agree with the impacts- disagree with QB hit stats- the QB's are so protected, that guys are no longer putting unnecessary hits on QB's
And though those knee to helmet and such do jar you the most on impact- the real damage to OL/DL - are the constant impacts that happen every single play. They may not hurt but an OL is most likely getting near 200 hammer taps to the helmet every game.
 
A

ashokan

Heisman
May 3, 2011
25,325
19,686
0
I always wondered why Mahomes helmet always looked so big.
I just read he wears his helmet high so that he can see better


Mahomes has previously complained about his helmet dropping down over his eyeline, making it difficult for him to get a full view of the field and obstructing his vision.
To counteract this, he began putting his helmet higher up on his head, which soon became a fix that he became accustomed to.

"The two-time Super Bowl champion doesn’t wear the average-size helmet on game days.

He wears a Riddell SpeedFlex on weekends. That helmet is larger than the average NFL helmet.

According to reviews left on the Riddell website, the helmet is considered one of the safer ones to use. Many users have praised how safe the helmet is during contact. The helmet comes equipped with a flexible panel at the front of the equipment, designed to reduce the impact of head contact. There’s also inflatable foam padding.

Mahomes, in all likelihood, wears the extra-large version of the football gear. He has noticeably worn his helmet higher than most quarterbacks and NFL players.

But there’s a reason behind the level Mahomes wears his helmet. He had once complained that his helmet was always slipping down over his eyes on the field. He eventually started to raise his game day gear above his neck higher than usual — but to improve his field vision.

That now explains how Mahomes is able to complete his uncanny no-look throws and hit his targets with pinpoint accuracy."





 
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