Earlier this year Riddell reached out to the football community to commit to “smarter” tactics both on and off the field. Riddell, who is the leader in helmet design and innovation recognized seven teams for going above and beyond in creating a better, safer game as part of its first-ever Smarter Football initiative.

The seven programs, which span youth and high school teams, will receive a combined $100,000 in equipment grants from Riddell. The donations include the InSite Impact Response System and SpeedFlex helmet – two of Riddell’s most advanced football protection technologies.

The Riddell 2015 Smarter Football Grant recipients are:

Juniata Thundercats Youth Organization (Philadelphia, PA)

Westlake Village 101 Warriors Youth Organization (Westlake, CA)

Pioneer High School (Whittier, CA)

Ypsilanti Panthers Youth Organization (Ypsilanti, MI)

Boyne City High School (Boyne City, MI)

Natick Youth Football (Natick, MA)

Jensen Beach Falcons (Jensen Beach, FL)

As the game evolves, so too does the technology and techniques that will push the game forward. Riddell created the Smarter Football program to promote smarter tactics and is excited to reward these programs for doing their part in bringing the game into the future.