How to Make a Youth Football Helmet Tighter

While the NFL has increased concussion awareness in recent years, as well as its fines for helmet-related player violations, youth leagues also have been striving toward greater equipment safety. Many companies that manufacture youth league football gear -- like Rawlings, Schutt and Riddell -- continue to upgrade their safety designs. Even if the helmet is the right size for the youth, there are ways to make it fit tighter. Ideally, the skin of the forehead should move with the front pad when the helmet is shifted. There should be no room for movement.

Things You'll Need

  • Glycerin
  • Helmet inflation bulb with needle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Apply glycerin to the end of the helmet bulb's needle. Do not use saliva or petroleum products, because they can weaken the valve material.

    • 2

      Put the helmet on the youth's head.

    • 3

      Insert the inflation needle into the insertion points on the helmet's shell, and squeeze the hand pump until the inside air cells are inflated.

    • 4

      Snap the helmet's chin guard into place.

    • 5

      Tighten the chin guard straps by pulling the two corners of each side of the strap through their adjustment notches.