Patterson football teams will have extra protection in 2025

Offensive linemen protect quarterbacks. So do running backs.
And, at Patterson Junior High, so did one enterprising mom.
Angelena Swords Brocato, a mother whose four children include three current and aspiring quarterbacks, set out to buy Guardian Caps for her boys. Guardian Caps are an extra layer of padding that fits over the hard shell of a football helmet, providing extra protection against head trauma and concussion.
Her boys are 13, 11 and 6. The youngest plays flag football.
“I figured I couldn’t be the only one who was concerned,” Brocato said.
So she began to collect donations, and people couldn’t give fast enough.
Within two weeks, she’d raised about $6,000, enough to buy 105 Guardian Caps for the entire Patterson High team as well as for the PJHS squad.
“People in your community want to help sometimes,” Brocato said. “But they don’t know how to turn that into action.”
She started with Patterson High alumni and Patterson businesses. Donations came in from those sources, former PHS principals, the Felterman Foundation and more.
They gave enough to cover the $56 bulk cost of each Guardian Cap for both teams.
Repetitive head trauma has been a growing source of worry for athletes, even – maybe especially – young athletes.
The Guardian Caps company cites research using a variety of metrics measuring the impact of the extra protection. BioCore reported a reduction in a particular kind of head motion acceleration of 5-9%, depending on the type of protection.
National Football League data show a 50% decrease in the number of concussions.
The company says more than 5,000 high schools are using its product, but Guardian Caps haven’t caught on yet in this area.
“If we can eliminate one obstacle, one deterrent, I think we’re doing pretty good,” Brocato said.