EFFECTS OF VARYING FACEMASK REINFORCEMENT ON AGILITY AND FUNCTIONAL REACTIVE ABILITY IN NCAA FOOTBALL PLAYERS

BACKGROUND: Football headgear has become increasingly bulky over time in efforts to prevent injuries. We have shown that peripheral vision reaction time is hindered with heavier facemask reinforcement. However, athletes were stationary when completing testing which may not translate to actual gameplay. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify how varying facemask reinforcement influences agility and functional reactive ability in NCAA football players METHODS: D1 NCAA football players with normal/corrected vision participated. In a randomized manner, participants completed 60 second agility tests for the following conditions: Baseline/no helmet (BL), Light reinforced (HL), Medium reinforced (HM), Heavy reinforced (HH) face masks. For each condition, participants completed two reactive tasks using a FITLIGHT trainer system: reactive reach test (RRT) and reactive step test (RST). For the RRT, 5 poles equipped with 10 LED sensors were placed in a semi-circle 1 m around a center point. Participants were asked to step and reach with their hands to hit 10 lights as fast as possible. For the RST, 5 LED sensors were place on the ground in a semi-circle 1 meter around a center point. Participants were asked to step and hit each sensor with their foot to hit 5 lights as fast as possible. Each reactive test was repeated for a total of 3 attempts. Average reaction time and time to test completion (TTC) were analyzed and compared between facemask condition. RESULTS: HL (p = 0.030), HM (p = 0.034), and HH (p = 0.003) conditions resulted in slower reaction time during RRT compared to BL. TTC was significantly increased during the HL (p = 0.021 ), HM (p = 0.013), and HH (p = 0.011) versus BL. However, no differences existed between facemasks (p > 0.05). For the RST, reaction time was slower during HL (p = 0.027), HM (p = 0.018), and HH (p = 0.015) conditions versus BL. TTC was significantly higher during the HL (p = 0.046), HM (p = 0.029), and HH (p = 0.017) versus BL. No differences existed between facemask conditions (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Regardless of facemask reinforcement, wearing a football helmet impairs functional reactive ability. Since unobstructed vision on the field is important for safety and performance, these findings may have important implications on equipment regulations for safety in collegiate football.