Lead

Two leading sports neuroscientists have criticised the Australian Football League's endorsement of a new helmet that is being sold to the public before a study into its effectiveness at reducing concussions has been completed. The helmet, known as GameGear, has been marketed with claims of reducing head acceleration by 91 to 94 percent, a figure that has since been questioned.

The controversy has deepened with the revelation that GameGear has removed promotional statements from its website, including one that touted 'superior protection against concussion.' The AFL has not yet responded to requests for comment on the removed claims.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting on the issue has been largely consistent across both articles reviewed. The earliest coverage focuses on the scientific community's backlash, quoting leading sports neuroscientist Alan Pearce labeling the decision to sell the helmet before the study's completion as 'potentially dangerous' and a sign of 'bad science.'

A second wave of reports indicates that GameGear has since retracted its most direct claims about concussion protection. The company has also stated it does not claim the helmet prevents or reduces concussion in real-game scenarios, despite its earlier promotional materials. This reporting also reveals a complaint has been lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by player manager and safety advocate Peter Jess.

Key Claims

The following claims form the core of the controversy:

  • The GameGear helmet was being sold online before the completion of a study into its effectiveness at reducing concussions.
  • The helmet's inventor, Graeme Attey, claims it will reduce head acceleration by 91 to 94 percent, a figure that is yet to be independently verified.
  • GameGear has removed claims of 'superior protection against concussion' from its website.
  • The AFL has developed its first-ever Australian Football Headgear Standards, which the GameGear helmet is expected to help shape.
  • The AFL's headgear standards do not guarantee protection from brain injury.

Perspectives

Scientific community: Sports neuroscientists like Professor Alan Pearce of Swinburne University and American researcher Chris Nowinski argue that no headgear has been proven to prevent concussion and that selling the product on such implications is misleading and potentially harmful. Nowinski pointed out that American football, which features heavy helmet use, has the highest rate of the degenerative brain disease CTE.

Manufacturer's stance: Graeme Attey, GameGear's inventor, maintains his goal is to do for head protection what 'seatbelts did for road safety.' He states the helmet is designed to reduce force, not prevent concussion, and welcomes scrutiny of its marketing materials.

Regulatory and oversight: The AFL has developed its first-ever Australian Football Headgear Standards but has not commented on the specific claims made about the GameGear helmet or the complaint to the ACCC.