No tradesman can go to work without the proper tools and no football player can get his job done without the right equipment. Perhaps the most important equipment is the helmet. It not only protects the head, skull and brain from the severe blows that are a part of the game, it also needs to fit comfortably on the player so he can see the field and know what he's doing without encumbrance.
First and foremost, the football helmet must be designed for the player's safety. Modern helmets have padding between the plastic shell and the player's head. This "suspension type" helmet is designed to take repeated hits without wearing out.
What to Look for
There are two absolute musts when purchasing a football helmet. The first is relatively easy to determine: Does the helmet fit? If it's too loose and not secure, it will fail to protect the player and also hinder his ability to see the field and do his job. If it's too tight, headaches and neck pain will result.
The other factor is protection. The modern helmet features shock-absorbing and air-inflated energy wedges that absorb much of the force from a shocking blow. Even the best helmet can't prevent all injuries and concussions, but it can reduce the risk by as much as 31 percent. Because each player's head and body are different, these energy wedges need to be filled with the appropriate amount of air to provides sufficient protection. The right amount for one player may be too much for another. As a result, each helmet has to be fitted and approved by an experienced salesperson working in concert with the athlete.
Common Pitfalls
Helmets have come a long way from a technological standpoint over the last 10 to 20 years, so it is important to understand all the protective aspects that are available. These include an air support system that cushions and protects the head, neck and jaw areas. It is important to inflate the air support system properly or else those improvements will mean little. Also, football players must heed the warnings of how not to use the helmet--spearing, head tackling, face tackling--or else they could cause the injuries helmets are designed to avoid. Most of the catastrophic football injuries over the last 20 years are the result of leading with the head when blocking or tackling. Those who use the helmet as a weapon are far more likely to suffer a spinal injury then those who avoid this dangerous technique.
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