This week, Helmet Tracker implemented the Indianapolis Colts' football helmets and shoulder pads at their training facility near Eagle Creek Park. Though the facility is undergoing construction, the process was much the same as when we implement other teams. We thought it may be interesting to our customers, partners, followers, and others to pull back the curtian and show what we do.
When a visitor arrives at the Colts' training facility, a security guard ensures you are an invited guest. You are checked in, you sign in, and
you receive a guest badge identifying who you are and who you are there to see. Assistant Equipment Manager Mike “Smack” Mays, in his 29th season with the Colts (he started as a ball boy!) showed us around. Most areas we worked in were slated for demo. Helmets and shoulder pads usually reside on shelves and specialized racks. Because of the construction, active use helmets and pads were stored in each player's blue equipment duffle.
Football Helmets and Shoulder Pads
To start, we'd retrieve the helmet from the duffle bag, sometimes amist socks, braces, notes, several pair of cleats, other equipment, personal items, and assorted apparel. We'd then afix a Helmet Tracker RFID tag under the padding inside the helmet (1, 2, 3). We record in the system who is assigned the helmet, the helmet manufacturer, model, first season year, and what parts are attached to the helmet (4) [size, chin strap, and facemask] (5).
The information abouit the helmet is entered into the Colts' custom Helmet Tracker pages. Here, co-founder Rick Perkins works with Helmet Tracker intern Carter Rand. Carter is a student Equipment Manager at Kansas State.
Once the information about the player's helmet is entered, we turn our attention to the shoulder pads. We apply an RFID tag, scan it, and note the manufacturer, first season, model, and what extra pads are used under the top of the shoulder pads. The shoulder pads and football helmet used by the player is associated with the player.
We always train Equipment Managers to use the custom Helmet Tracker inventory management system so equipment can be added, updated, or removed. Here, Colts' Assistant Equipment Manager Mike Mays learns from Helmet Tracker co-founder Rick Perkins and intern Carter Rand.
We thank Assistant Equipment Manager Mike Mays and the Indianapolis Colts for their trust in Helmet Tracker and great hospitality! Contragulations on 35 years in Indianapolis!
