- The football helmet is a vital piece of gear that is absolutely required at any and all levels of football except for the non-tackle versions of the sport like flag football. The helmet serves to protect players from head injuries and concussions, although concussions can still occur, especially at the upper echelons of football where the players are more athletic and larger than at the lower levels, leading to more violent collisions. The helmet is composed of a hard outer shell made of very thick plastic and padding on the inside. The helmet is precisely fit for each player so that it will not move around on the head and has various safety features on the professional level such as air bladders and jaw pads. A series of metal bars known as a face mask goes across the open area where the player's face is exposed to protect it from being hit.
- Shoulder pads are made of hard plastic on the outside with foam padding beneath it. These pads are designed to absorb the impact of tackles and blocks and fit over the player's shoulders, chest and ribs. They provide a cushion against bone-jarring blows and differ from player to player according to their position on the football team. In the National Football league there are as many as a dozen different types of shoulder pads with a few variations of each type. This allows players to have the best protection afforded them according to where they play. Some are more lightweight than others for players like the wide receiver and quarterback while others are designed for interior lineman so that other players cannot grab onto them. This piece of football gear is often custom-made for players, with the protection of specific areas where they have suffered past injuries in mind.
- Football uniforms consist of a jersey and a pair of pants. Both are specially designed to withstand the rigors of the sport. The jersey is normally made of nylon but can have spandex on the side to keep it tight fitting. Many are equipped with Velcro strips to keep them tucked into the pants. Jerseys will have the player's number on the front and back and in college and the pros the player's name appears above the number in the back in most programs. The football pants lack a zipper; they are made with a lace-up fly so since a zipper would not be practical in such a contact sport. The football pants have two sets of pockets sewn into them on the inside to allow thigh and knee pads to be placed in them. Football pants in most cases require a belt to keep them up.
- No football player would last long without thigh, hip and knee pads. This bit of football gear is inserted into the football pants before they are put on. The thigh pads and hip pads protect the upper legs and hips and keep players from sustaining deep bruises. Knee pads do the same for the knees. Some players will have extra pads such as a tailbone-protecting pad. Again the football gear is much more technical at the top levels of the sport, where players often will have a "girdle" containing protective padding that they wear under their pants. These types of pads are made of high-density shock-absorbing plastic.
- As for shoes, the playing field will dictate what type of footwear the player has on. Grass fields require shoes with cleats, with the conditions on the field determining the length of the cleats. Artificial turf fields mean lighter shoes designed to give the players the best traction. These lack cleats. Mouth guards protect a player's teeth and are custom-fit for the player. Many players will attach their mouth guard to the face mask of the helmet and take it out after every play before inserting it prior to the next one. Players have the option of wearing a "neck roll," a piece of football gear that is simply a foam roll that goes around the back of the neck. It offers protection for the neck by keeping it from going too far backwards when the player is hit. A protective cup worn in a special jock strap is worn to protect the player's privates.
Comments
shrek86 said
on 8/6/2009 I was wondering if there is a place which provides the whole lot of all products as one package. And at reasonable pricing. For some reason the companies out there are selling products individually