Caitlin Gouws

Erin & Lee Hanson started Guardian Sports in 2011 with one goal in mind – protecting athletes by developing superior sports equipment. Equipped with 25+ years of experience owning and operating a technology and material sciences company, we created the Guardian Cap. The purpose of the Cap is to reduce the force of impact experienced by football and lacrosse players, and to prove that soft-shell helmet technology is superior to that of a hard shell. Over 1000+ youth programs, 5000+ high schools, top Power Conference college programs use Guardian Caps and in 2022 they were mandated by the NFL for practices. This project stems from our passion for player safety, foundation in material sciences and the generally accepted physics behind impact reduction. Our team continues to build the Guardian brand and recognition in the sporting goods industry. We are the only lacrosse ball manufacturer in the USA and have re-engineered and innovated the lacrosse ball by developing PEARL lacrosse balls - PEARL X lacrosse balls do not grease or harden over time, PEARL NX balls limit rebound for practice, PEARL LT balls are the first gameday certified textured balls, and PEARL Dual X are the only two-toned lacrosse balls. Guardian Sports has also created the first Bio-Based TPE Infill for synthetic turf fields. Engineered from corn and soy, the infill is designed to replace the recycled tire rubber found on most athletic fields with a long-lasting, cooler temperature producing, impact attenuating product. We do not always take products to market ourselves. Guardian has worked on a handful of other sporting goods projects, consulting with some top names in the industry. At Guardian Sports we have a true passion for protecting athletes, and we aim to continually develop technologies that can enhance sports equipment. Our goal remains the same: advance technologies to bridge the gap between the products that athletes deserve/need and what is currently available on the market.