No difference to change severity.
The medical research is unequivocal. Cushioning does Nothing to blunt the brain rattling inside it's casing.
Look no further than the last paddy mccartin concussion incident that ultimately was his last game.
The association of padded headgear with concussion and injury risk in junior Australian football: A prospective cohort study
To assess whether padded headgear was associated with incidence of suspected sports-related concussion, non-sports-related concussion head injury, and…www.sciencedirect.com
Evaluation of protective equipment for prevention of injuries in rugby union - PubMed
The protective equipment used in rugby union has limited effectiveness in preventing injuries. The results are supportive, however, of a role for mouthguards and padded headgear in preventing orofacial and scalp injuries, respectively, and for support sleeves in preventing sprains and strains.pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Helmets and Mouth Guards: The Role of Personal Equipment in Preventing Sport-Related Concussions - PMC
Every year, millions of athletes in the United States experience concussions. With athletes at all levels of play getting bigger, faster, and stronger, it has been suggested that newer technologies may provide an opportunity to reduce the risk and ...www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Watch this to see the mechanics of concussion
What all of the anecdotal evidence at grassroots footy shows though, is that when you mandate helmets in kids, they don't protect themselves going in for the ball and have a greater incident of head knocks and collision injuries.
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Thanks for those resources.
Some of that material seems to suggest that better helmet design can reduce the incidence of concussion.
The issue of helmeted players leading with the head (Basil Campbell style) is best regulated by the rules of the code.