Milton-based football league dons new helmets this season
MILTON, Ga. — Youth athletes are sporting state-of-the-art football helmets as the North Atlanta Football League’s fall 2024 season kicks off this month.
The recreational league aims to maximize playing time for players and provide a fun, safe and educational experience.
The North Atlanta Football League purchased 253 helmets from industry leader VICIS for its players this year.
A mechanical engineering professor and a pediatric neurosurgeon came together in 2013 to design the helmets, which are now worn by NFL players like Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Nick Bosa.
Certor Sports, a sporting goods portfolio, owns VICIS among other popular brands. The price of a helmet ranges from $570-$900, according to its website
The North Atlanta Football League, created in 2015, serves the Alpharetta and Milton communities. It offers flag football, tackle football and cheer for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Tony Palazzo, president and CEO of Berkeley Capital Partners, founded the league and talked about the value of the new helmets.
“[VICIS] has developed a revolutionary helmet capable of absorbing angular acceleration forces that often lead to concussions, thereby significantly enhancing player safety,” Palazzo said.
The nonprofit says it teaches the importance of focusing on academics, character development and giving back to the community.
“Football is a vehicle for many life lessons,” Palazzo said. “The new helmets ensure our players can safely enjoy the game of football while continuing to learn valuable lessons they can take with them for the rest of their lives.”
Organizers are looking to donate the old helmets, which are safe for continued use, to another league.
“Don’t hesitate to contact the league if you want to facilitate or accept a donation,” Palazzo said. “We are extremely blessed in North Fulton County, and when we had the opportunity to upgrade our helmets, we knew another league could benefit from our perfectly safe equipment.”
To learn more about the league or inquire about donations, visit www.nafl. club/home.
— Hayden Sumlin
NORTH ATLANTA FOOTBALL LEAGUE/PROVIDED
Back row from left: Tony Palazzo, director of the North Atlanta Football League; Dave Cramer, president of NAFL; Austin Ragans, vice president of NAFL; and Mike Helman, NAFL coach, smile in a team photo with players after fitting them for the new state-of-the-art helmets.
► ALPHARETTA
8-17 1:00 pm L 57-10 vs. Houston County
8-23 7:30 pm vs. Kell
8-30 7:30 pm @ Milton
9-13 7:30 pm vs. Denmark
9-20 7:30 pm @ Forysth Central
9-27 7:30 pm vs. North Atlanta
10-4 7:30 pm vs. South Forsyth
10-11 7:30 pm @ Lambert
10-25 7:30 pm vs. North Forsyth
11-1 7:30 pm @ West Forsyth
► BLESSED TRINITY
8-16 7:30 pm W 24-0 vs. St. Pius X
8-23 7:30 pm @ Holy Innocents
8-30 7:30 pm @ Prince Avenue Christian
9-13 7:30 pm vs. Milton
9-20 7:30 pm @ Hebron Christian
9-27 7:30 pm vs. Savannah Christian
10-4 7:30 pm @ Kell
10-18 7:30 pm vs. Westminster
10-25 7:30 pm @ Centennial 11-1 7:30 pm vs. Cambridge
► CAMBRIDGE
8-16 7:30 pm W 34-10 @ Pope
8-23 7:30 pm vs. Johns Creek
8-30 7:30 pm vs. Creekview 9-6 7:30 pm @ Denmark
9-13 7:30 pm vs. Calhoun
9-27 7:30 pm @ East Coweta
10-4 7:30 pm vs. Westminster
10-11 7:30 pm @ Centennial 10-25 7:30 pm vs. Kell
11-1 7:30 pm @ Blessed Trinity
► CENTENNIAL
8-16 7:30 pm W 40-14 vs. Riverwood 8-23 7:30 pm @ Duluth
8-30 7:30 pm vs. Johns Creek 9-6 7:30 pm vs. Discovery
9-13 7:30 pm @ Chattahoochee
9-27 7:30 pm @ Chapel Hill
10-11 7:30 pm vs. Cambridge 10-18 7:30 pm @ Kell
10-25 7:30 pm vs. Blessed Trinity 11-1 7:30 pm @ Westminster
► MOUNT PISGAH
8-16 7:30 PM L, 14-10 @ Haralson County
8-23 7:30 PM vs. Mt. Paran Christian
8-30 5:30 PM @ B.E.S.T Academy
9-6 7:30 PM @ Providence Christian
9-20 7:30 PM vs. Mount Vernon
9-27 7:30 PM @ Wesleyan
10-4 7:30 PM vs. King’s Ridge
10-11 7:30 PM @ Fellowship Christian
10-25 7:30 PM vs. St. Francis
11-1 7:30 PM vs. Region Crossover
► ROSWELL
8-16 7:30 pm W 21-6 @ Peachtree Ridge
8-30 7:30 pm vs. Walton
9-6 7:30 pm vs. Buford
9-13 7:30 pm vs. Westlake
9-20 7:30 pm vs. Seckinger
10-4 7:30 pm vs. Johns Creek
10-11 7:30 pm @ Chattahoochee
10-18 7:30 pm @ Lanier
10-25 7:30 pm vs. Gainesville
11-1 7:30 pm @ Milton
► ST. FRANCIS
8-16 7:30 pm L 42-7 @ George Walton
8-23 7:30 pm vs. King’s Academy
8-30 7:30 pm @ Mt. Paran Christian
9-6 7:30 pm vs. Lanier Christian
9-20 7:30 pm vs. Wesleyan
9-27 7:30 pm @ King’s Ridge
10-4 7:30 pm vs. Fellowship Christian
10-11 4:00 pm @ Mount Vernon
10-25 7:30 pm @ Mt. Pisgah
11-1 7:30 pm vs. Region Crossover
