Erin Hanson has introduced a new product called the Guardian Flex chinstrap, designed to enhance player safety in football by reducing the severity of impacts to the facemask. Officially launched by Guardian Sports, this chinstrap has already caught the attention of Canadian Football League (CFL) teams for its innovative engineering aimed at minimizing concussion risks associated with facemask hits. Studies indicate that such impacts represent a significant proportion of head injuries in football, and traditional helmets often fail to adequately protect against them.

The chinstrap features technology that claims to lower Head Acceleration Response Metric (HARM) scores by up to 35 percent, thus providing a tangible improvement over existing safety gear. This new product joins a line of protective equipment from Guardian Sports which previously included the Guardian Cap, a padded shell designed to be worn over football helmets. While neither item can fully eliminate the risk of concussions, research has shown the Guardian Cap can reduce concussion risk by 15 to 34 percent, highlighting the importance of advancing player safety gear.

Hanson's innovation reflects a growing concern over head injuries in contact sports and the ongoing challenge of finding effective solutions. As more leagues and teams evaluate the Guardian Flex chinstrap, it opens up vital discussions about improving safety standards and protecting athletes at all levels of competition, especially in light of increasing awareness around the long-term effects of concussions in sports.