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As we wait to hear more about Zach Collaros’ head injury — and if he’ll return to the Ticats’ line up next week — the Hamilton Football Association is doing their part to protect youngsters from suffering a similar fate.

The high hit that Odell Willis delivered to Zach Collaros last Friday was not flagged. But upon further review, the CFL said that it should have been, and handed Willis a fine.

Joe Sardo: “It’s good to see that, at the professional level — the mentors of these kids — they’re enforcing it.”

Joe Sardo is the director of football operations for the Hamilton Football Association, which is holding three days of fittings this weekend for their up-coming fall session.
He has spear-headed a local player safety initiative, which included securing a $118-thousand dollar government grant to purchase 350 new helmets: “It’s always recommended to have different types of helmet manufacturers because not one helmet fits the child the same way.”

In this case, both of these helmets are labelled “medium” but you can clearly see that one fits this child and the other doesn’t.

Joe Sardo: “Now you’ll see that space that comes in there. I should not be able to get my finger.”

The HFA not only bought different brands of helmet, but also ones that provide players with different styles of support.

Joe Sardo: “Now you’ll see — that distance is gone.”

Specially-trained coaches are now measuring, wiggling and, properly pumping-up hundreds of helmets — making player safety their top priority, both on and off the field.