The latest news of health and safety in sports starts with helmets and hockey:

* Forbes reported that Reebok is taking on a competitor for its claims that it can stop hockey concussions with its helmets.

Hockey equipment company Bauer had made claims concerning a newly introduced helmet (the RE-AKT) that has revolutionized protection against head and brain injury.  One of Bauer?s competitors is not thrilled with the company?s stance that the RE-AKT is the only helmet that reduces rotational acceleration.  Reebok-CCM Hockey, a subsidiary of the adidas Group and official outfitter of the National Hockey League, told Forbes.com that it acknowledges Bauer shares a goal of helping the hockey industry create safer equipment, but takes issue that Bauer?s CEO has made ?stray comments and false safety claims? regarding its new product. “The topic of head injuries in hockey is too important and of serious concern to the general public to be the subject of confusion in the marketplace regarding product performance.” said Phil Dubé, General Manager for Reebok-CCM Hockey.

* Speaking of helmets, the Woodland (Calif.) Daily Democrat wrote about a new type of helmet called the ?Gamebreaker? that being backed by a former NFL player and a coach.

The Gamebreaker is a new type of protective headgear designed to reduce the threat of concussions and other head injuries for participants in what are considered “non-contact” sports. Manufactured and distributed by Newbury Park-based Gamebreaker Helmets, the protective cap is fast becoming required equipment in flag football and at high school seven-on-seven passing tournaments across the country. The helmet is essentially a protective cap that can also be used in sports like soccer, lacrosse, field hockey and water polo. The Gamebreaker has foam inserts that cushion impacts and a chin strap and laces that allow users to get a custom fit.

* University of Arizona quarterback Matt Scott denied he had a concussion against USC two Saturdays ago, despite showing such symptoms on the sidelines. The Arizona Daily Star reported that he did suffer a concussion last Saturday against UCLA. Teammate Hank Hobson also suffered a severe neck injury.

* The Hartford Courant published a guest column by a Yale assistant professor of nursing about the effects of concussions.

* The Baltimore Sun wrote about how a Maryland task force on concussions listened to public testimony Monday.

* Seahawks.com wrote about the concussions suffered by strongside linebacker K.J. Wright and left guard James Carpenter.

* Time published an op-ed piece by author Mark Hyman, who reiterated his stance that kids under 14 should not play tackle football.

– Bill Bradley, contributing editor