Protective equipment in gridiron football
Football protective equipment is made of synthetic materials: foam rubbers, elastics, and durable, shock-resistant, molded plastic.
Football protective equipment has remained consistent in use for decades with some slight modifications made over the years in design and materials.
The professional football helmet consists of several distinct parts: the shell, jaw pads and abdomen bladders, face mask, chin strap, and mouth guard.
The shell is constructed of hard plastic with thick padding on the inside, a face mask made of two or more metal bars (usually two spaced far apart and a third close to the middle), and a chinstrap used to secure the helmet.
The inside of the helmets was lined with foam padding and plastic pods, or an inflatable layer designed to absorb the shock of impact and create as tight as fit as possible.
The visors started out as clear or smoked, but now come in colors ranging from blue, gold, black, rainbow, silver, or amber.
The NFL requires medical clearance related to migraines and sun sensitivity for tinted, sunglass like, visors.
[2] An exception has been made for players with Oakley sponsorships: The company's light pink tinted "Prizm Shield" visors may be worn.
The jaw pads are fitted to ensure that the lower part of the helmet is snug against the player's face.
The helmets that most NFL teams use are remarkably light, and once the pads are in place, there is no movement or shifting on the player's head.
Players from the "old school" might argue that this creates an unfair advantage, but proponents say that the radio helmets make for clear coach-to-player communication, even in large, noisy games like the Super Bowl.
[5] In 2024 the NCAA updated rules to allow one player on the offense and one player on the defense to where a radio helmet, following rules similar to the NFL's with one major exemption, the radio is cut off when there are 15 seconds remaining on the play clock or when the ball is snapped, whichever comes first.
Shoulder pads accomplish two things for a football player: (1) they absorb some of the shock of impact through deformation.
A typical jockstrap used in football is constructed of a wide elastic waistband with a support pouch of cotton/elastic to contain the genitals.
Two wide elastic straps affixed to the base of the pouch and to the left and right sides of the waistband at the hip complete the jock.
Many youth football players, such as the Pop Warner leagues, are often required to wear a protective cup.
A mass marketing in 1902 claimed the garment, now termed a "small comforter" was "medically installed" for all males that engaged in sports or harmful activity.
Game-used jerseys and pants are sports collectibles, with those of celebrity athletes realizing high sums.
Thigh and knee pads are made of plastics and inserted into pockets constructed inside the football pants.
Harvard's All-American center, John Cranston, was the first player to wear equipment to protect his face during an American football game.
The gloves worn by linemen usually are lined with very thick padding to better protect fingers and hands, which sometimes are caught in an opponent's face mask or are stepped on.
