Dick's Sporting Goods, Helmet Lab partner for a winning combination

The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab’s research is on shelves of sporting goods stores across the United States.

In collaboration with Dick’s Sporting Goods, the lab’s peer-reviewed and published STAR helmet rating system is now available in all the store's retail locations.

“At Dick’s Sporting Goods, we are all about the athlete. When they shop with us in-store, online, or through our mobile app, we want to make sure we are providing them with the best possible experience and gear,” said Mark Daniels, Dick’s vice president of team sports and fitness merchandising. “Part of that is equipping them with the information they need to make their purchase decision. By using the Virginia Tech helmet ratings, we are able to do just that."

Helmet Lab researchers calculate a helmet's STAR, or Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk, score based on its performance in a series of impact tests. A higher score on a scale of one to five means the helmet offers better protection from concussions, with five stars being the best rating.

The ratings can now be found on Dick's store signage, which includes information about the Helmet Lab and tips on how to find a properly fitting helmet. Helmets labeled with the Helmet Lab's safety rating are available for purchase online and in store at all Dick's Sporting Goods locations.

“Sports safety is extremely important, especially in a high-contact sport like football. We've used the Virginia Tech helmet ratings for over three years now and find our athletes respond really well to it," Daniels said.

Since its debut almost 15 years ago, the Helmet Lab has produced ratings that have helped protect millions of athletes and reshaped the helmet industry in the process. Researchers currently have publicly available ratings of helmets used in 11 sports and activities.

The partnership with Dick’s marks a new milestone in that public safety mission. Barry Miller, the lab’s director of outreach and business development, described it as a “win-win-win.”

“It’s a win for the helmet companies because it differentiates their helmet performance against others on the market. It’s a win for the consumer because they now get to see the differences in helmet performance by seeing the 5-STAR-rated logo. And finally, it’s a win for the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab because part of our public service safety mission is to inform consumers on the relative difference between helmet performance,” Miller said.