CHARLESTON, W.Va.— State Lawmakers are considering legislation aimed at improving the safety of student athletes in West Virginia. The bill is a crusade of one father from Boone County who tragically lost his son last fall to a head injury playing football.
“Cohen would have still been with us today if he had something on like the Guardian Cap. If we can remember Cohen and let his tragedy help other families, that is our goal,” said Ryan Craddock, the father of Cohen Craddock.
Cohen, a 13 year old 8th grader at Madison Middle School, tragically collapsed on the practice field after taking a severe lick to the head during a drill. Coaches had already called an ambulance when he showed signs of possible brain injury, but before the ambulance arrived he collapsed and later died at the hospital.
Since then, Ryan has been on a mission to make Guardian Caps mandatory in West Virginia football if not nationwide for young players. The caps are an extra layer of padding which is worn over the football helmet as an added protection to absorb a hit.
“I was unaware there was any kind of additional protection for kids. If I had just known, I would have purchased that for my kid and I feel like the outcome would have been a different. I want to be able to protect any and all other kids we possibly can,” said Ryan in an appearance on MetroNews Talkline.
The legislation, Senate Bill 585 entitled the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, has three components. It would mandate the use of Guardian Caps during football practice in West Virginia. It would also create a Student Athlete Safety Advisory Council to explore ways to improve safety for all sports. Finally, the bill creates the Cohen Craddock Memorial Grant Program where counties can apply for monetary assistance to purchase safety equipment for their student athletes.
“I’m not trying to change the game of football, we’re just trying to make it safer,” said Craddock.