While the Cascade R lacrosse helmet has recently been decertified, there is a process in place for recertification. The company came to an agreement with the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) that will rectify the situation. Cascade will make a simple modification to the helmets that are currently in the marketplace so that they will meet NOCSAE certification standards. Cascade states that the fix will be a simple and quick.
The modification process began at Cascade’s Liverpool, NY Facility on December 16. It comes at no cost for consumers and retailers. Cascade will cover the cost of shipping so that customers bear no financial burden to have their Cascade R helmets recertified. Once the helmet has been modified, it will be referred to as the Cascade R-M helmet. Each modified helmet will receive a special tamper-resistant sticker to distinguish it from the non-certified Cascade R helmets.
Cascade representative, Tim Ellsworth, stated that the company will “work diligently to ensure that all helmets are modified as quickly as possible”. The company’s willingness to cover shipping costs and modify the helmets in an expedited manner is a testament to its elite level of customer service. The company is reviewing its other lacrosse helmets and will institute a similar recertification process in the event that they do not meet NOCSAE standards. A third party audit of Cascade’s quality control and quality assurance processes will also be conducted.
Those who do not need a helmet for lacrosse games in the near future should retain their Cascade R helmets for the time being. Cascade has stated that a procedure will be developed to provide these players with an update or a replacement helmet. Players who do not own another certified helmet but have upcoming games should reach out to a local lacrosse helmet retailer to find out if they can be fitted with a certified helmet. If they are capable of doing so, the player should return his Cascade R helmet to the retailer and they will provide a replacement helmet.
Teams with Cascade R helmets who have games quickly approaching and lack a means of obtaining certified helmets should immediately reach out to Cascade’s customer service department at 1(800) 537-1702. Cascade will help to find a retailer to provide certified replacement helmets so that players can return to competitive action in a timely manner.