Football is a popular sport with all ages participating staring as young as 5 years old all the way through adult professional levels. Before getting on the field, players are required to wear several pieces of gear. Although it looks like this gear may hold a player back, the gear actually serves an important purpose, whether for safety or for advantage during the game.
Brain
Football can be a dangerous game, largely due to the combination of speed and full-contact force that is experienced during the game. Many types of injuries can occur during the game, with the concussion being the most common, suggests the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. Football equipment, especially the helmet, is designed to prevent concussions and other injuries to the brain by providing a combination of pads as well as a hard outer shell to help protect the head and brain from the potential force of the game.
Mouth
Connected to the helmet are chin guards and mouth guards. These pieces of equipment are required to protect your jaw and teeth. When collisions occur, force can be applied to the lower jaw, forcing it up toward the upper jaw with extreme force. This force is sometimes enough to break teeth or even damage the soft tissues in the mouth, such as the tongue and inner cheek. The mouth guard is specially made to provide a buffer as well as dampen the effects of blunt force to the mouth. Guards may be stock or custom made for your mouth.
Bones
Football gear is essential for helping protect your bones from bruising and breaking. The gear responsible for this protection are the many pads ranging from the shoulder and chest pads to the padding in the football pants for the knees and thighs. Padding such as neck role or neck collars is also important for protecting the bones of the neck against damage during a collision or fall on the field.
Reproductive
Football gear also provides protection for more vulnerable areas of the body, such as the male genitals. Athletic supporters and cups help hold the genitals in place while running or falling, while at the same time provide a protective hard outer coating to protect against direct impacts.
Ability
Football gear can also help contribute to your overall athletic ability. For example, football cleats provide the necessary traction to allow you to have more traction for running on the field, even in wet weather when the turf can become slick. Football gloves also provide additional traction but for catching and holding the ball, which is especially important for positions that include running backs and wide receivers.
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