Whitefish student-athletes have taken the initiative in outfitting the football team with Guardian Caps, ensuring an extra level of safety for practices.  

Guardian Caps are soft-shell padding covers that go over the helmet to reduce impact and over time, reduce injuries. According to Guardian Sports, the product was designed in 2010 to advance the standard football helmet, which has seen few changes since the 1960s.  

In 2023 the NFL mandated that players wear them in practice, and a few players wear them during games now as well. But implementation hasn’t been quite as swift at youth levels. 

Cole Moses, a senior running back and linebacker, was talking with fellow athletes about seeing the caps not just in the NFL, but in college and at high schools in other states. He knew both himself and the Bulldogs should give it a go.  

“You have a lot of sub-compressive hits, where it’s just continuous, rep after rep, especially for linebackers,” Moses said. “They help us practice to the best of our ability without harm.”  

Anderson Barille, a senior and center/defensive end, suggested a fundraiser to ensure that everyone on the team could get a Guardian Cap.  

Soon enough the players had raised about $2,400 from local businesses in town.  

They also reached out to the West Coast regional manager at Guardian Caps and said that they were supportive and able to offer a bulk discount.  

Raymond James, Ibex Real Estate, Revel Real Estate, Glacier Payments and Fidelity Title contributed, in addition to a few other individuals. Coach Brett Bollweg had the Bulldog Booster Club fill in the rest to cover every player.  

“It’s a testament to how supportive the companies are for the Dogs,” Moses said.  

Now, for the next four or five years, every player will get one, Barille said.  

“It’s not mandatory to wear them, but most do,” Barille said. “It’s great to see – everyone loves them. 

“And the feel at the end of practice, you just feel better. I’m surprised how big of a difference it makes.”  

The two said that they’re especially helpful for those in the “close-knit box,” like linebackers, but with Whitefish players running practices together it's good that every player now has one.  

With about 95% of their time spent in practice, the caps are more “behind the scenes,” they said, and won’t be worn on game day.  

The Bulldogs kick off the season at home this Friday at 7 p.m. against Havre.