High Tech Shirts Donated To Northview Football Team To Protect Against Injury

August 9, 2018

The Northview High School Chiefs football team received a donation Wednesday that will help keep them safe on the football field this season.

They will have high tech performance rib shirts under their uniforms. The shirts hold a shield that begins as a soft material, a high-tech polymer, that molds to each individual player’s body, becoming rock hard and protecting the abdomen from injury.

The shield is different than a foam pad that just softens a blow; the impact from a hard hit is dispersed across the entire shield

Ten years ago, Niceville High School football player Taylor Haugen passed away after a hit to his abdomen ruptured his liver.  Since then, Taylor’s parents, Brian and Kathy have made it their mission to bring awareness that high school students need to be equipped with the same abdominal protective gear that professionals use.

The Taylor Haugen Foundation has now outfitted all the high schools in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, along with schools in 13 states nationwide.

“I lost my son 10 years ago to an abdominal injury. It actually crushed his liver during an impact that he sustained during a game,” Kathy Haugen said. “I found out the following year about this particular product, and I’ve been researching and trying to keep up with the technology ever since.”

She said she wants to see the shirts made part of the required high school football protective gear.

“We concentrate heavily on brain injuries and the impact that has, but there are organs down in your abdominal region that you can’t live without. And if you don’t catch some of the tears and injuries, you can also pass away from those.”

The shirts cost about $80 each.

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Comments

3 Responses to “High Tech Shirts Donated To Northview Football Team To Protect Against Injury”

  1. Willene Bryan on August 10th, 2018 7:30 am

    Thank you Haugen family. What a blessing you are to so many. So sorry for the lost of your son.

  2. Kelly Brown on August 9th, 2018 10:40 am

    After reading this article, I am really touched! That is so wonderful! God bless the Haugen Family for establishing such a worthy Foundation with a cause that speaks volume, brings awareness and shows true concern and compassion for area High School football players. Your son Taylor is resting in the arms of our Lord but his spirit will live on through the lives that you helped protect! May God continuously bless your family!

    Grateful Citizen

  3. Karen on August 9th, 2018 9:32 am

    Wow! What a blessing for the local football teams. Thank you to the Haugen family!