Football is a rough and tumble sport, fraught with potential injury from blocking, tackling, sprinting, leaping, twisting, turning and frequent head-on collisions. The very nature of football threatens the body with myriad sprains, strains, pulls, tears, contusions, dislocations, fractures--and worse. Fortunately, aggressive research and medical treatment have provided football players of all skill levels--from youth-leagues to professional--with a vast array of top-flight protective equipment that reduces the risk and severity of injury to bones and tissues not really designed for the rigors of this classic American sport.
Head
The contemporary football helmet is made of molded plastic and polyurethane that significantly reduce the risk of head and brain injuries. Vital to the helmet's performance is a firm, snug fit that virtually molds it to the contours of the head and ears. Enhancing this fit are removable or inflatable padded linings that can be easily adjusted. In addition, a strong see-through face shield is fastened to the front of the helmet to protect the eyes, nose and mouth. In recent years, ever increasing numbers of football players of all ages have elected to wear mouth pieces to protect their teeth.
Shoulder and Neck
Consistent research has steadily improved the capability of football shoulder pads to absorb the impact of blocking and tackling while increasing range of motion. Vital to maximum protection of the shoulders, chest and upper arms is proper fit. Innovations in protecting the neck ultimately produced popular "cowboy collars"--neck rolls, which are either attached to the shoulder pads or part of a vest with a molded collar extending to the rear base of the helmet. These collars help to protect the neck by absorbing the shock of helmet-to-helmet collisions and impact from tackling.
Torso
Perhaps the area of the body most exposed to injury in football is that of the rib cage, abdomen and lower back area. In recent years significant progress has been made in protecting the torso with the use of flak jackets and back plates that help protect the spine and lower back. Its origins in the military, the flak jacket envelopes the upper body and midsection in lightweight yet strong shock-absorbing materials that absorb or dissipate the force of a blow. The jacket's mission is to prevent injury.
Below the Belt
Pads of vinyl-encased foam may be fitted inside some types of football pants to protect the hips, tailbone, thighs and knees. Football "shorts" featuring floating foam and optional foam-covered plates help cushion impact with lightweight padding at the hips, tailbone and thighs. Increasingly popular is a girdle made of elastic polymer which adapts to the body's physical characteristics while stiffening and dissipating energy upon impact. Soft and fluid-like while at rest, this polymer permits a free range of motion while offering more protection against impact than traditional foam padding.
Feet
Cleated football shoes come in a wide variety of styles and features. Most important is that shoes fit correctly, provide stable footing and give ample support to the ankles. Football shoes are available in numerous high-top and low-cut styles, and most cleats are designed exclusively for either natural grass or artificial turf. Interchangeable--or detachable--cleats are tailored to the type of field and weather conditions. Detachable cleats employ studs that can be replaced with ease--shorter studs for hard and dry surfaces, longer ones for wet and muddy conditions.
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