Four Essential Pieces Of Football Gear

Football is the all-American pastime. In fact, it's probably the most popular sport in the United States, depending on the season, of course. If you have ever tried playing football, you will find that it is one of the most physically demanding sports as well as one of the most violent. This is the reason that having the right football gear is important to avoid any accidents or injuries. Here are some of the most essential pieces of equipment that one needs before getting onto the football field.

• The helmet – The most exposed part of the body that is most prone to damage is your head. This is why in many violent sports you will notice that players wear a helmet, like hockey.

In football, the helmet is the player's best friend. There are two kinds of helmets that a player can choose from for practice and actual games. Air helmets have an inflatable lining that can adjust itself to the size and shape of a persons head, therefore softening any blow made to the head. Suspension helmets, on the other hand, have a thick inner lining that pads the entire outer part of the head. Each helmet has a chin strap to keep the helmet in place. It is important to get a helmet that is the right size for one's head.

• Facemask – A facemask is used in football to protect a player's face from injury. Injuries can happen from player contact and football is known to be a contact sport with players crashing into each other as they try and gain control of the football. There is a two-bar facemask that allows players to see more of the field, a four-bar facemask that gives more protection against contact injuries, and a six-bar facemask that gives maximum protection but hinders one's vision. If you expect to have a lot of contact on the field, a four-bar facemask is the best to use.

• Pads – Another important part of the body to protect from damage is the shoulders. Shoulders are not easy to repair so you will see that football players use very thick shoulder pads to protect them. Shoulder pads vary in size depending on the size of a player's body. It's important that shoulder pads are comfortable but not too loose nor too tight. The shoulder pads should be the first things to attach properly when getting ready for a game of football.

• Mouth guard – Now, you may think that you don't need a mouth guard because you already have a facemask to protect your entire face. However, a mouth guard does not only protect from contact on the field. It also protects your teeth from smashing up against each other when you do make contact. Usually, a mouth guard is attached to the chin guard on the helmet. It is very similar to the mouth guard that boxers use in the ring. Use this to protect your mouth and teeth from injuries of any kind.