The field was packed with high school football players charging and running drills in Saturday's 91-degree heat at Wake Forest University's BB&T Field.
But the day's goal was to make those charges and drills safer than ever.
The Matthew Gfeller Sports Safety Spectacular brought in players, researchers, medical staff, helmet manufacturers and former NFL players and coaches whose aim was to educate local high school players on ways to prevent traumatic brain injuries.
The event was organized by the Matthew Gfeller Foundation in conjunction with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Wake Forest University, Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill. The foundation is named after a Reynolds High School sophomore who suffered a fatal brain injury because of a helmet-to-helmet collision in his first varsity game in 2008.
Lisa and Bob Gfeller, the parents of Matthew Gfeller, said they were pleased with the turnout for the event.
"I think our hope for today was that a lot of young men would come out and learn a lot of new things — that they walk away learning a few new things about football to be safer on the field and in practice for the game," Bob Gfeller said.
Josiah Jeffers, 17, a player for Reagan High School, said that he learned new ways to stay safe that will change the way he plays the game.
"I learned how to tackle safer, make sure there is no head-to-head contact and make sure everyone's safe. Before, I would usually just go with my head first and now I've learned to keep my chest up and head up so, you know, I don't break my neck or anyone else's," Jeffers said.
The event also showcased helmet sensor technology to show players the force of blows to the head. The sensors have been utilized for research at all of the schools that took part in the event.
Student athletes need to be aware of the dangers of impacts to the head, said Dr. Kevin Guskiewicz, director of the Matthew
Gfeller Sport-Related Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center at UNC
"What's really important, I think, is that the players taking part in the events today will learn more about a great game," Guskiewicz said. "Hopefully what they have learned today is the smart and safe parts."
Paul Jones, 15, a player for East Forsyth High School, said he learned ways to keep himself safer on the field — "how to recognize how people hit me, and basically how to stay safe in football, how to tackle, where to put your head and how to take a hit — just the safety of it."
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