Intelligent Impact-Sensing Liner for Youth Female Athletes

Lay Description

Concussions in youth sports are a growing concern, especially for young female athletes. Research shows that girls experience concussions at higher rates than boys in comparable sports, yet most protective equipment and concussion-monitoring systems are designed using data from adult male biomechanics. This mismatch means young female athletes may not be adequately protected, and many concussions go unnoticed.

This project addresses that gap by developing a low-cost, intelligent helmet liner specifically designed for female youth lacrosse players. By combining impact-absorbing foam with embedded sensors and a microcontroller, the system both reduces the force transmitted to the head and measures dangerous impacts — including rotational forces that are strongly linked to concussions.

The liner provides immediate alerts when a potentially harmful hit occurs, allowing coaches, parents, and players to take action before further injury happens. Early detection is critical because continuing to play after a concussion significantly increases the risk of long-term brain damage.

Importantly, the system costs only about $20 in parts, making advanced head-impact monitoring accessible rather than limited to elite or professional programs. This demonstrates that concussion-prevention technology can be affordable, practical, and tailored to the specific needs of young female athletes.

Overall, this project contributes to safer youth sports by combining prevention, detection, and accessibility — helping protect brain health during a critical stage of development.