Help Us Protect Football Athletes in West Virginia and Beyond with Guardian Caps
The Caps for Cohen Initiative has been established in loving memory of Cohen Craddock by his family in an effort to raise funds to provide protective, soft-shell helmet covers, called Guardian caps, to youth football players across West Virginia and beyond.
Cohen, a 13-year-old eighth grader from Madison Middle School in Madison, West Virginia, passed away on August 24, 2024, from a head injury sustained during football practice. His family hopes that enhanced safety measures, such as use of a Guardian Cap, could reduce the risk of injury for other youth football players.
Caps for Cohen has established a GoFundMe account and seeks to raise money to supply Guardian Caps to as many youth football programs in West Virgnia as possible. By supporting this initiative, you can honor Cohen's memory and help protect future generations of athletes.
What is a Guardian Cap?
A Guardian Cap is an impact-reducing, soft-shell helmet cover designed to provide an extra layer of protection for athletes, particularly during football practices. This innovative equipment fits over traditional helmets and helps to absorb and deflect the impact of collisions, reducing the risk of head injuries.
Guardian Sports has graciously agreed to a reduced price for each cap ordered through our Initaitve. Please consider a donation to cover the cost of purchasing one or more Guardian Caps. Any donation amount, however big or small, is sincerely appreciated. Net proceeds from all donations will go toward purchasing Guardian caps for youth football teams.
“Caps for Cohen seeks to honor Cohen's memory and his love for football by making the game safer for all kids. The Caps for Cohen Initiative is our way of turning our family’s grief into action. We believe that by providing these Guardian caps, we can help prevent future injuries and save lives."
— Ryan and Jennifer Craddock, Cohen’s Parents
Remembering Cohen Craddock
Cohen Craddock was a beloved 13-year-old student at Madison Middle School in West Virginia. He will forever be remembered for his infectious personality, bright smile, and kind heart. He was more than just a promising football player for the Redhawks. Cohen was a gifted student with a passion for math, technology, and had dreams of becoming a computer engineer. His warmth, intelligence, and enthusiasm made him a friend to all, and he was adored by his classmates, teachers, and the community. Cohen loved going to church, excelled academically, and always stood out as "Mr. Personality" with a heart of gold. His tragic passing has left a profound void in his family and community, but his legacy lives on through this effort to enhance safety for other young athletes.
West Virginia State Senator Mike Stuart is working to ensure that Cohen's legacy leads to change. In the 2025 legislative session, Stuart plans to introduce the Cohen Craddock Student Athlete Safety Act, which would make West Virginia the first state in the nation to require the use of Guardian Caps for all elementary and middle school football, as well as in contact high school football practices.
Advocacy
“We should not place our kids in positions where they face long-term injury from simply playing sports. Cohen’s passing was a tragedy, and we owe it to him and all young athletes to make this simple but effective safety measure mandatory. The National Football League (NFL) mandated the use of Guardian Caps during practice for certain positions in 2022. If it’s good enough for the NFL, it’s good enough for our kids.”
-Sen. Mike Stuart