A "small but growing number" of soccer players are now wearing "various forms of protective headgear," including U.S. women's national team MF Carli Lloyd and D Ali Krieger, according to Martin Rogers of USA TODAY. The "market leader" is San Diego-based Full90, a firm that started in '06 and "sells a range of soccer-specific protective wear that is now fully authorized after initial hesitation from FIFA, and is particularly popular in youth soccer and among players who have suffered prior head trauma." Full90 Founder & CEO Jeff Skeen "acted after his daughter suffered from concussions in youth soccer." Skeen "wants major companies like Nike or Under Armour to enter the soccer headgear market, pay the players they endorse to wear the products, which he believes would have the instant effect of turning the items into a fashionable must-have rather than 'the sign of a wounded warrior'" (USA TODAY, 6/11). ESPN.com's Darren Rovell reported Pennsylvania-based Unequal Technologies, "known best for its Gyro product, which is a Kevlar insert that goes inside football helmets," on Monday announced that, after Krieger wore its Halo headband in friendlies leading up to the tournament, she was "ready to put the headband into play during the World Cup." The Halo is "made of military-grade fabric said to be five times stronger than steel." The product is "being sold for $30 and $40, depending on desired thickness, on national sports retailing websites" (ESPN.com, 6/8).
