Descriptive characteristics of the study population
| Athlete characteristics | Full shield | Half shield |
|---|---|---|
| Number of athletes | 319 | 323 |
| Number of athletes injured | 195 | 204 |
| Median age | 22 | 22 |
| Previous injury (%) | 87.9 | 95.1 |
| Previous concussion (%) | 55.6 | 55.3 |
| Rookies (%) | 41.9 | 39.5 |
| Veterans (%) | 58.1 | 60.5 |