Guardian Caps are soft outer shells that attach to helmets to help reduce impacts and the risk of concussions. They were created by Erin and Lee Hanson in 2010 through their company The Hanson Group. Testing at universities showed Guardian Caps can reduce head impact severity and the probability of concussions in helmet-to-helmet hits. They are available for individual purchase or for teams/leagues and provide benefits like less time injured and more playing time for players as well as fewer ineligible players for coaches.

1. Guardian Caps
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2. COMPANY OVERVIEW

3. HISTORY of GUARDIAN CAPS
 Erin & Lee Hanson from Atlanta, GA started Guardian Caps.
 The Hanson Group - Material Science Company - Founded by Lee
Hanson in 1996
 In 2010, The Hanson Group was approached by PSE (Protective Sports
Equipment), who has over 30 years of helmet research and development .
 Engineers, physicists and chemists focused on thermoset technologies
 Technical Product Development for many fortune 100 companies: Oakley, 3M, BASF, Correct
Craft, Playcore, Boeing, Ford Motors, PPG, Dicks and others
 Developed various sporting goods product lines: Maxfli & Wilson golf balls, climbing wall holds,
shotgun recoil pads, Gladiator soft-sided football helmet and The Guardian
 Football Today and Lacrosse, Hockey, Cycling, etc. Tomorrow.

5. Why Guardian Caps Now?
 QB Panel Wonders if Anything Can Stem Concussion Problem.
 Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers were joined by Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jim Plunkett, and they each shared their takes on
the state of the game.
 A Dangerous Game: Student Athletes and Head Trauma
 Sports are often a meaningful component of a child’s life from a very young age. Being part of a team can help nurture leadership
skills, build confidence, and teach cooperation. Depending on the sport, though, accidents and hard hits can be a frequent
occurrence. Coach and parent guidance, proper equipment, and access to a health care professional all help prevent serious
injury, but concussions are an ever-present threat.
 Ahead of the Game: The Parents' Guide to Youth Sports Concussion
 New research has shown that there is no such thing as a simple "bell-ringer," and that sending a child back on the field too soon
puts his or her physical and emotional health at risk.
 Pop Warner Announces New National Rule Changes Regarding Practice & Concussion Prevention
 In our continuing efforts to provide the safest playing environment for our young athletes, and in light of developing concussion
research, we would like to announce some important rule changes for the 2012 season.
 Growing Concern Over Concussions Among Youth Athletes
 CHICAGO (CBS) – The headlines about concussions are everywhere these days.
 Dangers of High-School Football Concussions – Dr. Oz
 20% of all high-school football players will suffer at least one concussion over the course of their playing years.

6. DID YOU KNOW?

7. CONCUSSIONS
 Definition - Concussions are the result of
rapid changes in velocities between the brain
and skull. A collision between the two
disrupts the delicate neuronal layer of the
brain relative to the magnitude of
acceleration and the player’s physiology.
 Once a concussion has occurred a player
is 4 to 6 times more likely to sustain a
second concussion.

8. CONCUSSIONS
 62,000 concussions occur each year in high
school sports, with football accounting for two of
every three, according to the Brain Injury
Association of Arizona.
 Youth – Disadvantages in dealing with concussions.
 Young brain is more vulnerable than the mature brain.
 The young athlete is at biomechanical disadvantages
 Young athletes also have fewer medical resources
 Among many other disadvantages, studies show children lack
the knowledge and verbal skills to report concussion
symptoms to adults.

9. CONCUSSIONS
 Close to 90 percent of concussions may
go unreported because athletes are not
aware of the signs and symptoms and do
not think the injury is serious enough to
report to medical personnel.
 Many more concussions suspected at an
earlier age and with a cumulative effect.
 Pop Warner rule changes to address
issues with parental anxiety, registration
fall off and increased safety.

10. PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS

12. TESTING/FIELD TRIALS
 Protection – Testing shows that wearing the
Guardian can reduce the Severity Index and HIC
(Head Injury Criteria)
 Scientifically Tested - Tested at Oregon Ballistics,
Wayne State University, and Penn State University
Labs
 A soft outer shell dampens and redistributes
the energy from helmet-to-helmet contact.
 Low coefficient of friction – Slips against other
Guardians, helmets and uniform materials
 Protects the outside of expensive helmets –
Have scuff-free helmets on game day
 Field trials - 600 caps were worn on the field in
2011 with great results
 Expert panel – we have over 15 MDs,
neurologists, PhD biomedical engineers, physicists
and scientists consulting

13. PROOF – IT WORKS
 Penn State Biomechanics Lab quantified neck
torque produced by glancing head forms – Hard on
Hard = 40 NM and Soft on Soft = 38 NM. On
narrow angle impacts (0-12 degrees) there was a
similar non-distinguishable torque difference.
However, soft shells produced a pronounced
reduction of peak critical force, ranging form 8-33%,
compared to the hard shells.
 Tests conducted by Wayne State University
Bioengineering labs measured Hard on Hard vs.
Soft on Soft helmet impacts. In the side impacts
the HIC was reduced from 360 to 289 and
probability of concussions reduced from 80% to
55% respectively. In the rear impacts the
reductions were 466 to 302 and 92% to 65%
respectively.

14. BELIEVER IN SOFT
SHELL TECHNOLOGY
“During my NFL career I wore an extra pad on my helmet to
help reduce the risk of concussions. As important as the game
was to me, I wanted to make sure I was healthy when my
career ended. Soft shell technology greatly reduced my
concern about making hits that may result in concussive side
effects. I was able to play 8 years, 5 years using soft shell
technology, including four Super Bowls. I believe that I am
healthy today, 18 years later, because of that protection. In my
opinion, soft shell technology will become the standard for
helmet protection in the very near future.”
Mark Kelso – Former NFL Player, Buffalo Bills #38 1986-1993

15. BENEFITS
 Players & Family  Coaches/Leagues
 Less Time Injured  Going Above & Beyond
 More Playing Time  Uninjured Players Play
 More Class Time  Fewer Ineligible Players
 Reduced Expense  More Fun For Everyone
 Happier Players  Personal Satisfaction
 Have a Stronger Future  Provide a Stronger Future

16. ORDERING THE GUARDIAN

17. PURCHASE OPTIONS
 $69.95 per Guardian
 Call your local rep or order on our website
 Red, Black & Silver

18. PURCHASE OPTIONS
 $59.46 per Guardian
 We can produce custom colors for orders of 4,000+ caps.
 Call us for TEAM or LEAGUE orders of Guardian Caps.
 Fund raising programs available for Booster clubs.

19. CONTACT US
WWW.GUARDIANCAPS.COM
Michael Feeley
Regional Sales Manager
512-917-4923
mfeeley@guardiancaps.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Guardian-
@GuardianCaps
Caps/208219602573699

20. Thank You
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