Football is a relatively simple sport when it comes to the equipment that parents need to supply. You'll need to invest in cleats, a mouth guard, at least one ball and a couple jock straps, but most American football equipment is usually provided by the team.
Helmet
The football helmet is the most important piece of equipment used during an American football game. Helmets include full head protection, a face mask and an optional visor. While most helmets don't protect against concussions, they do protect against traumatic head and spinal cord injuries that reduce the risk of permanent brain damage or death. Helmets should be inspected and certified by an approved reconditioner every year, according to the website Moms Team, ensuring that they adhere to current safety standards.
Pads
Football involves body battering moves and plays, and football pads help protect the body from injury by preventing direct force and impact to the body itself. Players should wear shoulder pads, hip pads, tail pads, knee pads and thigh guards when practicing and playing. The types of pads used will vary slightly depending on the position your child plays. For instance, players who undergo a number of direct collisions, such as linemen and linebackers, usually wear larger, cantilevered shoulder pads, while players such as receivers and quarterbacks who need a wider range of movements usually wear flat shoulder pads.
Uniform
Football players have to wear a uniform over all those bulky pads. This consists of football pants and a jersey, and may also include items like team socks and shoes. The NCAA requires that each team member wear a number on the front and back of the jersey falling between the numbers of one and 99 -- no two teammates can wear the same number. In most cases, football players will have a home and an away jersey in contrasting colors. The light colored jersey is designated for home games, while the dark jersey is designated for away games.
Football
The ball is an oblong leather object with laces crossing the length of one side. The NCAA requires that the ball's length be between 10-7/8 inches and 11-7/16 inches, while the circumference must be between 20-3/4 in and 21-1/4 inches. The ball should weigh between 14 and 15 oz. If you're purchasing a ball for your child to practice with at home, choose a ball made of a synthetic material that will hold up under significant wear and tear.
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