Football Equipment and Gear

Football Protective Equipment prevents injuries.

Football is a rough sport and having the right football gear or protective equipment can make the difference between suffering an injury or coming out of the game unscathed.  

A football helmet is the first line of defense in protecting players from head injuries. The helmet is made up of several different parts.  The outer shell is usually made of a hard plastic material that is made to withstand impact.  Inside are jaw pads to protect the jaw and air bladders that cushion impact and help the helmet to fit properly. The chin strap goes underneath the chin to keep the helmet from falling off and comes in a half dozen different styles.  

Most face masks attach to the helmet but they can also be a separate piece of protective equipment, depending on the preferences of the player. The mouth guard protects the teeth and mouth from injury. It’s a simple piece of plastic that is heated and then placed inside the mouth so that while it is warm it takes on the shape of the individual player’s mouth and teeth.  Mouth guards can attached to the face mask or not as the player prefers. 

The neck roll is a piece of protective equipment, made of foam, that fits around the neck.  It is specifically designed to prevent injury should the player receive a blow that snaps the head either backwards or forward. 

There are four different kinds of pads that protect the football player’s body.  These include shoulder, hip, thigh, and knee pads.  All of these pads fit under the player’s jersey and pants.  Shoulder pads are wide and consist of a hard shell that’s made of plastic with foam underneath.  They go over the shoulders and the chest and ribs can also be protected by this hard covering.  

Depending on the position of the player, football gear to protect the hips, pelvis and tail bone can also be worn.  These make what look like a girdle.  Thigh and knee pads also protect football players and can be fit into pockets inside the pants. It’s also a good idea to wear an athletic supporter. 

Other areas of the body that need football protective equipment are the hands and feet. Linebackers wear gloves with thick padding which protect their hands when tackling. Hands can be injured if they get caught in another player’s equipment or if they should get snagged or stepped on in a pile-up. Receivers wear special gloves with a sticky palm that enable them to catch passes and hold on to the ball. 

Football gear for the player’s feet are shoes and cleats.  Sometimes shoes with molded bottoms are used in practice but rarely during a game.  There players wear shoes with plastic cleats that screw into the bottoms.  What kind and size of cleat used depends on whether it is a natural grass or artificial turf field and whether the conditions are normal or if it’s rainy and wet or snowing.