Football is an exciting, fast-paced and hard-hitting game that is considered by many to be the most popular sport in the United States. Every play in football involves hitting and tackling. Whether you play in the NFL or at the college, high school or Pop Warner level, there is always a chance you will suffer an injury during a tackle. Wearing protective football gear lessens the impact of hits from other players and lowers your risk of getting injured.
Helmet
A proper-fitting helmet is necessary to protect football players from serious head injuries. You should select a helmet that meets the safety standards established by the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE). Parts of the helmet include the chin strap, protective chin cup, jaw pads and face mask. The helmet should fit snugly to your head, the chin cup should be tight against your chin and the strap should fasten securely to the helmet. Jaw pads help protect your jaw from hard hits that can lead to concussions, while the face mask protects your nose and face from serious injury.
Mouth Guard
All football players are required to wear a protective mouth guard, which is a piece of plastic that is inserted into the mouth over the teeth. Wearing a mouth guard helps prevent broken teeth or a broken jaw, and it absorbs the impact of hits to the jaw, which can reduce the risk of a concussion. Most mouth guards will conform to your mouth if you soak them in hot water, which softens them, before you bite down on the guard. You should choose a mouth guard that come with a strap that lets you fasten it to your face mask.
Neck Roll and Athletic Supporter
The neck roll is snapped onto your jersey right behind your neck. The roll is made of foam, and it stops the head from going too far back during a hard hit. Neck rolls are worn mostly by defensive players to reduce the chance of developing whiplash, neck stingers and concussions from hard, head-on tackles.
All male football players must also wear an athletic supporter with a protective cup in order to protect themselves from serious injuries to the groin area.
Shoulder Pads
Shoulder pads absorb most of the impact that a player receives during a tackle. Shoulder pads have a hard plastic shell that covers protective padding, and they protect the shoulders, back and chest area of a football player. Sizing for shoulder pads varies depending on the position you play on the field. A quarterback, running back or wide receiver, for example, will choose pads that are smaller to allow for faster movement but still absorb hard hits. Players who do a lot of blocking and tackling, conversely, should choose a bigger, bulkier style.
Member Comments