What Goes On The Back Of Football Shoulder Pads?

Shoulder pads have long been a part of football. Those pad used to cover just the top of the shoulders and were rather bulky when worn by linemen and defensive players and rather small not very useful when worn by skill-position players (quarterbacks, running backs and wide receivers). Today's shoulder pads offer protection for the upper arms, chest and rib cage. Add Sections

Modern shoulder pads

The shoulder pad worn by most current football players consists of a two piece pad. The first is a larger piece that protects the shoulder and the upper arm. The second goes on top of the first pad and provides additional protection to the top of the shoulder. They are made of hard plastic with a layer of padding underneath to make them comfortable to the user.

Upper arm pad

An upper arm pad will go underneath the shoulder pad to protect the lower part of the shoulder muscle all the way down to the elbow. This is a soft but tightly woven pad that will absorb the force of most hits to the upper arm. These pads are often worn by quarterbacks and running backs.

Chest protector

A chest protector can also be worn under the shoulder pads. The chest protector can be attached to ths shoulder pad and it will protect the upper body. This is a bulky deviced but it is beneficial for those who are trying to come back from a chest or upper-body injury.

Rib protector

The rib protector can be attached to the bottom of the shoulder pads and it can help receivers and defensive backs who are trying to return after suffering broken ribs. Depending on the severity of the injury, broken ribs can take 6-to-12 weeks to heal, so a rib protector worn with a flak jacket can allow an athlete to return despite broken ribs.

Potential

Shoulder pads have become much more versatile and protective over the years because manufacturers have been using lighter and stronger materials over the years to make them more comfortable. Shoulder pads and those that are worn with them to protect the ribs, chest and arms will become lighter and stronger in the future.