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Currently, no high impact helmet standards exist for children. To meet the rising demand for these helmets in the youth market, manufacturers have basically downsized adult helmets. Children's heads and necks are very different than are adult's. Therefore, youth helmets do not provide the same level of protection as do adult helmets. We determined head mass and circumference in 128 childhood athletes aged 7 to 17, as well as made 95 separate anthropometric measurements from skull x-rays of children aged 6 to 17. We defined two distinct age groups. Group A, ages 6 to 11, and Group B ages 12 to 17. Comparing these measurements to adult measurements, and using previously reported anatomical differences we were able to show that the heads and necks of children are much different than are adults in mass, circumference and the ratio of head length to neck length. And, that these differences point out real and potential issues with youth helmets.

This paper updates our continuing research program examining the physiological performance of professional race car drivers. Data is presented from a comparative study examining the heart rate of different drivers in the lndy Lights race series. Each driver was monitored during practice, qualifying and race sessions on a short oval track (one mile) and a road course track. The effect of track type on physiological performance are addressed. Physiological data recorded during the Indianapolis 500 race and from practice and qualifying sessions for this event are shown. Technical difficulties involved in accurately measuring heart rate (HR) in the race car environment are addressed.