The West Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee has recommended the passage of Senate Bill 585, also known as the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, which aims to mandate impact-reducing soft-shell helmet covers for middle and high school football practices starting July 1, 2026. The bill is named after 13-year-old Cohen Craddock, who tragically passed away after sustaining a head injury during football practice in 2024. Cohen’s father, Ryan Craddock, believes that his son would still be alive if he had been wearing a guardian cap.
The bill also includes provisions for protecting purchasers of football helmets, creating a grant program to assist schools in obtaining safety equipment, and establishing the Student Athlete Safety Advisory Committee to evaluate safety rules and equipment standards. Dr. Javier Cardenas from WVU’s Concussion & Brain Injury Center supports the use of guardian caps, citing studies that show a decrease in the severity of head impacts with their use.
Community members in Boone County have already come together to donate over 750 guardian caps for local middle and high school football players through the Caps for Cohen initiative. The West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission does not oppose the bill and is open to enhancing it to improve the safety of student-athletes statewide. The bill is a crucial step towards protecting young athletes and preventing future tragedies like Cohen Craddock’s passing.
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