Football is a dangerous sport that causes hundreds of thousands of injuries across the United States every year. According to the National Center for Sports Safety, over 400,000 people were injured as a direct result of playing football in 2001. Football pads are worn generally to protect players players from being seriously or even fatally injured. As technology has advanced, so have the number of football pads available to players on all competitive levels.
Shoulder Pads
Of all the football pad types, shoulder pads come in the most variety. There are football pads made for every position on the football field. For example, a 315-lb. defensive tackle wears hefty shoulder pads with multiple layers of protection, but a 190-lb. quarterback will wear shoulder pads that offer only minimal protection. In fact, quarterback shoulder pads are custom made to the extent that they offer a slit in the underneath padding to allow for maximum range of motion when throwing. When choosing your pads, select ones specifically designed for your position.
Helmets
Head injuries are a major concern in football, and helmets have been undergoing a constant change to help prevent concussions upon impact. According to a 2007 study conducted by U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 36,000 emergency-room visits were made because of football-related head injuries. The inside of a helmet holds several small "hemispheres" that are padded materials filled with one of a dozen different substances made to absorb shock on impact. For example, the Schutt 4D helmet uses Skydex 2 military technology inside of each hemisphere to help cushion all blows to the head.
Cleats
Football shoes, or cleats, also come in a number of shapes and sizes. The primary differentiators for cleats are the length of the actual cleat pegs, typically from 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch, and the height of the ankle support. Longer cleats provide more traction on grass fields and inclement weather, and higher ankle support provides protection for your ankle during times when you may be susceptible to a sprain or strain. Longer cleats can also hinder your speed if the weather is fine and the surface is taut, and high-top cleats can also hinder your speed and ability to cut quickly. High-tops are typically worn by linemen, whereas low-tops are worn by skill-position players.
Rib Protectors
Rib pads were uncommon in the game as recently as the early 1990s. Now that technology has advanced, rib protection has become the norm, especially for the quarterback. Rib protectors usually come in one of two forms -- clipped on to the bottom of your shoulder pads or a shoulder-strap style that is worn under your shoulder pads. Some manufacturers have made rib pads that are sewn into undershirts, however, this protection is not meant to be a replacement to a rib pad, but rather a complement to it.
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