Football face mask removal using a cordless screwdriver following helmet use for at least one season of play

 Objective: To determine what percentage of face masks could be unscrewed from football helmets after use for a full season. 

Design and Setting: This study employed a cross-sectional design using a cohort of football helmets from local high schools. 

Subjects: All helmets used at each school were included (n=222, 9.7±1.2 games, 13.7±1.2 weeks of practice).

Methods: Helmet brand and hardware material were recorded. Helmets were secured to a board; a cordless screwdriver was used to attempt to remove all four screws attaching the face mask (FM) to the helmet. A digital stopwatch was used to time successful trials. Variables included overall success or failure, time required for FM removal and success by screw location. Data were analyzed with Chi-Square, ANOVA and Tamhane post hoc tests.

Results: Overall, 94% (832/885) of screws were unscrewed and 82.4% (183/222) of the FMs were removed. The mean removal time was 26.9±5.83 seconds. ANOVA and Tamhane post hoc tests revealed FM removal success was significantly different between School 1 (24/46, 52.2%) and Schools 2 (84/92, 91.3%) & 3 (75/84, 89.3%; F2,219=24.608, p<.001). Chi-square analysis indicated significantly more failures at screws adjacent to ear holes (10%) than at top screws (2%; p<.001).

Conclusions: Based on these findings and previous research demonstrating quicker access time and reduced head movement associated with the use of the screwdriver instead of cutting tools, the screwdriver may be a good tool for FM removal. An appropriate cutting tool should be immediately available should the screwdriver fail. Helmet hardware adjacent to ear holes is more vulnerable to failure, perhaps because it is protected by less padding than the top hardware. The use of hardware materials subject to rust/corrosion and differences in helmet brand are possible causes of the higher failure at School 1 and represent areas for future research and rules consideration.

2005  Decoster LC, Shirley CP, Swartz EE: Football face mask removal using a cordless screwdriver following helmet use for at least one season of play.  J Athletic Training, 40 (3).