NOCSAE Gathers Athletic Safety Experts to Select Sports Medicine Research Grants, Review New Concussion Protection Research

PHOENIX, Jan. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) winter board meeting begins today. During the meeting, athletic safety experts will select new sports medicine research grants submitted by leading academics across the U.S. If approved, NOCSAE will fund new and ongoing concussion and head injury research grants that total more than $2 million.

"NOCSAE's grant research funding program is highly focused on advancing scientific knowledge related to athlete concussions," said Mike Oliver, NOCSAE executive director. "We strive for continued innovation in sports medicine, so athletes of all ages are confident that their equipment is certified to standards based on in-depth, expert research."

Also at the meeting, the Scientific Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Robert Cantu, leading sports concussion specialist and NOCSAE vice president, will review key updates on concussion protection measures, including the committee's progress in developing a youth football helmet standard. The board also will consider requiring ISO Guide 65 third-party certification for athletic equipment certified to NOCSAE standards.

The NOCSAE Scientific Advisory Committee focuses on addressing the issue of concussions and improving concussion protection through helmet standards. The committee is comprised of independent experts in the areas of neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, biomechanics and epidemiology, and focuses on directing scientific research to understand the relationship between athlete concussion and helmet standards.

"The topic of athlete concussions is a prominent national issue that needs a long-term solution," said Cantu. "Our Scientific Advisory Committee is dedicated to understanding the complex factors leading to and following a concussion so that improvements can be made in protection, prevention and treatment."

NOCSAE is an independent and nonprofit standard-setting body that aims to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for protective equipment. It is the leading nongovernmental source for concussion-specific research funding in sports medicine and science. Since 1995, NOCSAE has devoted more than $7 million toward research by the foremost experts in sports medicine and science to develop and advance athlete safety.

About NOCSAE
NOCSAE, the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment, is an independent and nonprofit standard-setting body with the sole mission to enhance athletic safety through scientific research and the creation of performance standards for protective equipment. Formed in 1969, NOCSAE is a leading force in the effort to improve athletic equipment and, as a result, reduce injuries. NOCSAE efforts include the development of performance and test standards for football helmets, gloves and facemasks, baseball and softball batter's and catcher's helmets, baseballs and softballs, ice hockey helmets, soccer shin guards, lacrosse helmets and facemasks and polo helmets. NOCSAE is comprised of a board of directors representing stakeholders from a number of groups – including consumer and end users, equipment manufacturers and reconditioners, athletic trainers, coaches, equipment managers, and academic and sports medicine associations. These diverse interests have joined forces in an attempt to arrive at a common goal of reducing sports-related injuries. NOCSAE is a nonprofit, charitable organization supported by individuals and organizations with an interest in athletics. For more information, please visit www.nocsae.org.

SOURCE NOCSAE