In football, every inch matters.
The extreme level of contact and collisions are invariably ingrained in the very fabric of the sport. The size, speed, and strength of these athletes continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Yet, the technological fabric that comprises from the equipment worn hasn’t kept up with the times.
The impact of hits can range into ten tons in force between some players in the NFL. That’s not far off from being equivalent to a car crash without wearing a seat belt at 30 MPH. On average, each passing season produces more than 100 concussions–and this number doesn’t include the plethora of those not openly recorded. Despite the climbing clip, the body armor consisting of shoulder pads have largely remained plastic by design, with some iterations molding more right angles to deter the blow. A well-placed tackle could, in theory, disperse the force felt to be relatively tolerable; however, players shouldn’t depend on the incoming energy to be redistributed properly, organically in order to decrease its austerity.
Considering the lack of innovation for protective products in the space, Russell Athletic has developed a new shoulder pad system to try to combat this safety problem.
At its core, the CarbonTek technology stands as something as “revolutionary” within the marketplace. It isn’t merely the new materials that compose these shoulder pads, but, more importantly, the overall construction and fit. The intention, in turn, being to better serve the athletes and the impact they have to withstand.
The fact that this technology is a system breaks through conventional models thus far. That, in it by itself, offers a different approach around shoulder pads. There previously hasn’t been anything that devised a multi-faceted undertaking to a product that necessitates for more than a singular, generic configuration.
First, CarbonTek is divided into two parts, like the OS Technology. This aspect refers to to the foam design, which is constructed utilizing connected oblate spheroid-shaped cells. Such manufacturing creates a compression vest that fits tight to the football player’s body. The shape of the foam provides greater surface area for impact dispersion, heat discharge, and moisture management. And it’s worth noting that this technology allows for X-rays to be taken with it due to its visible nature; an important element whenever an emergency transpires, particularly in the collegiate and pro ranks.
Secondly, the aforementioned compression vest assists in range of movement and supplying more coverage above the torso area. The CarbonTek exoskeleton, fittingly, is made out of 100 percent carbon fiber. It is then molded into a lightweight arch that provides high-caliber impact dispersion at a reduced weight. This build functions better than traditional plastic that athletes have cumbersomely used.
Both of these features and materials combined pose a distinct advantage over competitors.
“When we decided to develop a unique protective system, we wanted to gain key learnings from industries that had expert knowledge of impacts. The automotive and aerospace industries were a great place to start,” Russell Athletic’s Vice President of Design and Development, Sarah Gholston, tells SportTechie.
While this endeavor proved to be a challenging one since it required them to step outside their comfort zone, an extensive process took place during its development.
Russell Athletic vetted this technology through a series of independent lab testing and field ones as well. They enlisted a company called Sports Science, a silo third-party research firm, for the laboratory work. Its Founder, Dr. Richard Brandt, personally devised a methodology to gauge the impact dispersion. As for the on-field testing, the pads were examined by Division 1 partners last fall and this spring. These avenues helped generate insights into the CarbonTek system being able to increase impact diffusion, which, as a result, provides football players with a reduced feeling when absorbing hits.
Although they commissioned Sports Science to conduct this study, Gholston informs SportTechie that all materials were obtained from Dr. Brandt and they didn’t influence the methods in any form or fashion. Not intervening with this process is important on Russell Athletic’s part–besides objectivity purposes–since there currently isn’t a standardized test on the market for assessing shoulder pads. In effect, this evaluation could serve as a preliminary platform to discuss such testing within the industry.
That said, the most notable scientific takeaway from this inspection is the impact’s dispersion capacity.
“The patent-pending design of the shoulder pad system clearly adds to the reduced impact sensed by the athlete. This was proven not only in the independent lab findings, but during field testing as well,” says Gholston.
These verified outcomes supports its relevancy during the immediacy of contact felt during a game. Also, the athlete’s claim to experience better post-game recovery is substantiated as a byproduct of the field work, particularly in terms of the significant range of motion benefits. They initially believed that the impact dispersion would, indeed, be greater than previous marks, but ended up being surprised by the tangible difference. For instance, in a 600 pound test, the CarbonTek pad reduced the average force felt by 63 percent.
Despite these results, Gholston mentions that Russell Athletic won’t make any assertion that an athlete will not get injured by wearing this product. Their interests fall in line with providing athletes with features and benefits within their products that assist in performance at the highest level.
On the whole, it’s clear that there hasn’t been innovation in the protective equipment segment of the sports industry. The magnitude of the hits experienced throughout all levels of football could be reaching a tipping point soon. Russell Athletic’s new CarbonTek shoulder pad system simply lens an extension to emerging products in the space, like the Reebok Checklight.
When it comes to wins and losses, maybe University of Cincinnati’s Head Football Coach, Tommy Tuberville, has a point: “Russell’s new OS Technology used in the CarbonTek shoulder pads and other products takes football science to a whole new level. It gives me the confidence to look a recruit in the eye and tell him I am doing everything I can to keep him safe.”