Abstract: A flexible support brace transfers excessive back motion of a sports helmet through a flexible interlinked brace, which floats freely between two spaced circumferential spans on the helmet during normal play but which engage with the helmet and collapses to a braced configuration if the helmet is excessively pulled back or pushed forward. In the braced configuration, helmet loads are transferred to the shoulder pads of the player directly thus transferring excessive head loads into the chest area of the player where they can be more safely absorbed.