Three West Virginia high school football schools to receive Ridell Axiom helmets

To advance student-athlete protection, three West Virginia high school football teams will be receiving Riddell Axiom helmets with InSite Analytics. West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute partners with Ridell to distribute 100 helmets across Fairmont Senior High School, East Fairmont High School, and North Marion High School. West Fairmont Middle School and the North Marion Husky Pups will also receive helmets.

Last season, Fairmont Senior finished with an 11-2 record and reached the West Virginia high school football Class 3A state semifinals. Meanwhile, East Fairmont finished with a 5-6 record, while North Marion had an 8-4 record and ended their campaign in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

In a press release, WVU assistant professor of Sports Neurology Michael Ebbert, D.O. said, “Our primary objective is to enhance the safety and well-being of athletes across the county with hopes to then mirror this framework for the rest of our Mountain State.”

Meanwhile, RNI Division of Sports Medicine chief Javier Cardenas M.D. expressed, “By combining cutting-edge helmet technology, baseline cognitive testing, and expert clinical oversight, we’re setting a national standard for protecting young athletes’ brains on and off the field.”

In addition to the Riddell Axiom helmets, the West Virginia high school football programs will also receive paid subscriptions to Ridell InSite Analytics to help determine head impact data that could help develop patterns and enhancements that can reduce impact.

Aside from the helmets and the InSite Analytics subscription, the schools will also receive starter kits for helmet maintenance. Riddell representatives will also fit the student-athletes with Axiom helmets and answer questions these teams may have regarding the technology.

The Riddell Axiom smart helmet features the TRU-FIT System which uses 3D imaging of the athlete’s head for better fit and improved protection. It can also feed invaluable reports through the InSite Smart Helmet Technology.