How to Properly Wear Football Gear

Perhaps your kid has joined the football team at his high school, and you're worried about his getting hurt. Rest assured, football players at all levels of play are required to wear a lot of padding to protect themselves from this rough contact sport. Your child's coach will make sure that each player is properly outfitted before hitting the field. If you want to make sure your child knows how to properly wear his football gear, have him put it on and show you that he is wearing everything properly.

Things You'll Need

  • Leg pads
  • Girdle
  • Jockstrap
  • Uniform pants
  • Athletic socks
  • Athletic shoes
  • Shoulder pads
  • Mouthpiece
  • Helmet
  • Gloves
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on a jockstrap to protect the groin area. Put on the leg padding, which is placed into pockets of a girdle and is worn underneath the uniform pants. Padding in the girdle will be on the front and back of the thigh, the hip area, the tailbone and the knees. Put on your football pants on top the girdle.

    • 2

      Wear shoulder pads. The shoulders are where the player will be getting hit the most. Shoulder pads also protect the chest and back. Players who are going to be tackling a lot should wear the cantilevered type, which have the bulky, bulging pads that sit on the shoulder. Players who will be doing more running such as the quarterback and the wide receiver should wear the flat pads because they allow for more mobility. Use the elastic body straps to adjust the pads to fit securely. Some pads have laces to tighten the pads at the center. Pads should adequately cover the sternum and pectoral muscles, as well as the shoulder blade. Pads should not shift when tightly secured. The defensive lineman should also wear neck rolls, a padding behind the neck that protects the head from whiplash. Put on the uniform jersey over the shoulder pads.

    • 3

      Put on your athletic socks and shoes. You may want to double the socks to prevent blisters. Depending upon your position and your coach, specialty cleats may be required, which help you grip the grass when running.

    • 4

      Put on gloves if necessary. Most receivers wear gloves that can aid them in gripping the ball and also keep their hands warm in cold weather. Linemen also have special gloves that are padded to protect the knuckles and fingers.

    • 5

      Put in the mouthpiece. The coach fits all the players for mouthpieces before the season starts. The mouthpiece protects the teeth and the jaw by absorbing the shock when hit in the head. Mouthpieces are sometimes attached to the helmet.

    • 6

      Put on the helmet, which is a required piece of equipment used to protect your head from serious injury. The helmet also comes with the face mask to shield your face from injury, especially your nose. Defensive lineman should wear helmets that have more bars of protection covering the face. Runners such as the quarterback have fewer bars covering their face so they can see better. The helmet should fit firmly but comfortably. The head should not be able to move freely in the helmet. When the player puts on the helmet, try to move the helmet up and down and sideways. If it moves easily without the player's head moving with it, it is too loose and adjustments need to be made. The helmet is strapped securely by the chin strap.