In-Season Success Rate and Time Required for Football Face Mask Removal with an NCAA Division II Team

Objective: Using an in-season football team, we sought to determine face mask (FM) removal time and success using a cordless screwdriver (SD) with an FMXtractor (FMX) as a backup cutting tool for use when the screwdriver failed. Design and Setting: Prospectively, members of an NCAA Division II team were randomly assigned throughout the season for data collection. The primary investigator traveled weekly to football practice to attempt FM removal immediately following practice. Independent variables included: helmet model (VSR4, Revolution), tool (SD, FMX), and weather conditions (dry bulb temperature, relative humidity). Dependent variables were time and loop strap removal success. Subjects: Eighty-four college football players (age=19 ± 1.2 years; height =182.7 ± 6.3 cm; weight =96.7 ± 14.5 kg). Measurements: A sling psychrometer was used to measure dry bulb temperature and percent relative humidity. Data regarding helmet and subject characteristics were collected. Each player assumed a supine position on the ground while the investigator used a screwdriver to remove the FM. An FMX was used to complete the FM removal when the screwdriver failed to remove all screws. Trials were timed with a digital stopwatch beginning when the screwdriver was first grasped by the investigator and ending when the FM was removed from the helmet. We set a 3-minute maximum for FM removal a priori. Data concerning time and screwdriver failure was recorded and transferred to SPSS for data analysis. A series of Pearson Correlations and independent t-tests was run to explore relationships between time and independent variables. Frequencies are provided for removal success. Alpha was set at p=0.05. Results: Eight subjects were unavailable on their data collection day, leaving 76 helmets (50 VSR4, 25 Revolution, 1 Schutt Air) available for data collection. No significant correlations were found between time and relative humidity ( r =-0.141) or dry bulb temperature ( r =0.109). No significant time differences were found between helmet models (VSR4: 38.6 ± 16.8, Revolution: 43.6 ± 10.8; p =0.191). The FM was successfully removed from 75 of 76 helmets; 70/76 (92%) FMs were successfully removed with the screwdriver. Five of six loop straps associated with screwdriver failure were removed with the FMX. One Revolution loop strap could not be removed within the time limit. Mean FM removal time (n=75) was 40.09 ± 15.1 seconds (range: 24.8-132). Conclusions: The combination of screwdriver and FMX provided a fast and reliable means of on-field FM removal in this Division II setting. Helmet removal should be practiced by ATCs for cases when the FM cannot be removed.

2006, Gale SD, Decoster LC, Swartz, EE: In-Season Success Rate and Time Required for Football Face Mask Removal with an NCAA Division II Team. J Athletic Training, Vol 41 (Suppl).