The following is an unedited news release from the Northwest Independent School District.
September 4, 2014
For Immediate Release
All NISD helmets meet the National Operating Committee for Standards of Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) which is the standard for testing helmet safety.
According to section SEC. 33.094 of the Texas Education Code:
1. A school district may not use a football helmet that is 16 years old or older in the district’s football program.
- a. NISD purchases top rated helmets and keeps them in inventory for up to 10 years.
2. A school district shall ensure that each football helmet used in the district’s football program that is 10 years old or older is reconditioned at least once every two years.
- a. In Northwest ISD, helmets are purchased, inspected, reconditioned or disposed as needed on a yearly basis. All helmets in NISD are inspected annually and meet the standards set by the National Athletic Equipment Re-conditioner’s Association, as well as the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment.
Northwest ISD continuously reviews ways to use new data to improve our processes, including the purchase of new helmets. We are paying close attention to the new research from Virginia Tech University. Although this independent study is not the standard used to test helmet safety required by University Interscholastic League (UIL), the new research provided by Virginia Tech University is accelerating our efforts to update our equipment.
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When purchased, the Riddell VSR-4 helmets were top of the line. These particular helmets are in the process of being phased out as they are nearing the end of their ten year life cycle. In lieu of this new research, NISD plans to accelerate our efforts and begin this transition period immediately. The Riddell VSR-4 helmets will be replaced with new helmets within ten business days.
