Barry Chin/ Globe Staff

As evidence mounts that repetitive head injuries can have a cumulative effect, leagues at all levels take steps to improve player safety,

Barry Chin/ Globe Staff

Lazar Franklin, president and head coach of the South End Titans "B" team, discusses new, better helmets for kids who play Pop Warner football.

Barry Chin/ Globe Staff

Chauntae Robinson strapped a newer helmet with more padding onto her son, Andre, 9, who had a mild concussion last month.

Barry Chin/ Globe Staff

Kew Sumpter's son recently had a concussion that gave him some memory loss. “That got me shook up,” she said. But “it wouldn’t be right to make him stop because he got hurt just once,”

Barry Chin/ Globe Staff

“We’re all about safety here,” head coach Franklin said.