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Indiana youth sports organization overhauls its full helmet inventory with Schutt F7 AiR Youth helmets, putting top-rated protection on every player ahead of the 2026 season
Westfield, Indiana, June 25, 2026 – Westfield Youth Sports (WYSI) and Certor Sports, parent company of the Schutt and VICIS helmet brands, today announced a partnership that puts one of the top-rated helmets in youth football on the head of every player in the league.
Ahead of the 2026 season, WYSI will replace its recreational football helmet inventory with new Schutt F7 AiR Youth helmets, retiring roughly 350 older helmet models. This year the newly launched Schutt F7 AiR Youth received a 5-star rating, the highest rating in Virginia Tech’s STAR system, which evaluates helmets based on how well they reduce head acceleration in sports-specific impact scenarios. With stricter thresholds, only helmets with exceptional performance now earn the highest 5-star designation.
The investment, funded by WYSI, reflects a league-wide commitment to making player safety the standard rather than the exception.
“Our commitment has always been to provide Westfield athletes with the best possible experience, and that starts with safety,” said Kevin Nicolini, Vice President of Westfield Youth Sports. “Thanks to our partnership with Certor Sports, we have completely replaced our football helmet inventory with new Schutt F7 AiR Youth helmets for the upcoming 2026 season. As a result, every athlete in our program will wear a 5-star-rated helmet. This investment reflects our belief that families should have confidence that player safety remains at the forefront of every decision we make, and we are extremely excited to build a long-term relationship with Certor Sports.”
Located roughly 30 minutes north of Indianapolis, Westfield Youth Sports serves hundreds of young athletes across its football program and broader sports offerings. By standardizing on the F7 AiR Youth across its rec teams, WYSI assures every family that their child is wearing one of the best-performing youth helmets on the market and that nothing is more important than their child’s safety.
“Protecting athletes isn’t just our business; it’s our mission, and that mission starts at the youth level,” said Jeremy Erspamer, CEO, Certor Sports. “Westfield Youth Sports made an unwavering commitment to athlete safety by making the decision to put the best available protection on every player, and we’re proud to stand behind a league that refuses to compromise when it comes to its kids. These are the formative years for these young athletes, and they deserve the same standard of safety we bring to the NFL and NCAA.”
The partnership is part of Certor Sports’ broader effort to bring the best in NFL-grade safety standards to youth and varsity athletes across the country. Certor Sports was named an Official Corporate Champion of the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) in a multi-year alliance spanning roughly 20,000 high schools, and earlier this year was named a partner of USA Football, the sport’s national governing body, to support youth safety initiatives, player development and coach education. The WYSI partnership extends that same commitment to protection directly into local youth football in Certor’s home state of Indiana.
To learn more about Schutt and all Certor Sports helmets, visit certorsports.com.
ABOUT CERTOR SPORTS
Certor Sports specializes in manufacturing products under the VICIS, Schutt, and TUCCI brands. As a premier provider of athletic protective gear and high-performance apparel, Certor Sports is committed to safeguarding athletes with cutting-edge solutions. With a strong emphasis on quality and performance, Certor Sports has established itself as a trusted leader in athletic protection. To learn more about Certor Sports, visit certorsports.com.
ABOUT WESTFIELD YOUTH SPORTS
Westfield Youth Sports (WYSI) is a community-based youth sports organization serving athletes and families in Westfield, Indiana. Committed to player development, safety and a positive experience for every participant, WYSI offers recreational and competitive programming across multiple sports. To learn more, visit westfieldyouthsports.org.