NCAA approves Gallaudet's use of a helmet for deaf and hard of hearing players this season

The NCAA has given full approval for Gallaudet’s football team to use a helmet designed for players who are deaf or hard of hearing for the remainder of the season.

The helmet developed by Gallaudet University and AT&T debuted last year with the team getting the chance to play one game with it. The Bison won that day after opening 0-4, and it was the start of a three-game winning streak.

The technology involved allows a coach to call a play on a tablet from the sideline that then shows up visually on a small display screen inside the quarterback’s helmet.

“We’re trying to improve the game, and with us, we’re trying to figure out ways to level the playing field for our guys,” Gallaudet coach Chuck Goldstein told The Associated Press in a phone interview. “We’re still in the trial phase. One game was a small sample size, and it was all built up for that one shot. Now as we go forward, we’re learning a lot about different hiccups and things that are coming down that we weren’t aware of last year.”