The weather is getting warmer, which means your kids' sports will now be held outdoors. These games often involve sliding, running, hitting, and tackling, so you will need to protect your child with the right equipment especially if he or she plays football. It doesn't matter if your child plays pee wee football or at a high school level, protective gear is detrimental in keeping bones from breaking and from causing injury to their noggins.
Huddle Up
There are few protective football gear staples that no player should be without. Although there is still a risk of getting injured, these safety fixtures reduce the chances of injury.
* '''Helmet''': The football helmet is by far the most recognizable piece of sporting equipment, and rightfully so. With all of the tackling and collisions on the field, this protective safety gear for the head has a hard outer shell and a padded inner lining to absorb impact. Helmets also have chin straps to ensure this head piece stays put, and a face guard so noses and teeth will remain in tact.
* '''Mouthpiece''': Keep those pearly whites from chipping or getting knocked out with a mouthpiece or mouth guard. These plastic guards conform to fit a player's mouth. Although you can have mouthpieces custom made, they can actually take on the shape of a person's mouth by softening it in hot water. All you have to do is place it in the mouth and bite down. This will form an impression of the teeth for a perfect fit. Mouth guards are usually attached to a helmet's face mask so it doesn't get lost.
* '''Jock Straps and Cups''': Heads, teeth, and shoulders aren't the only body parts that need protection. The male genitalia also needs safety barriers, which is where jock straps and cups play important roles. Jock straps have a wide elastic band and a pouch where a protective cup is inserted. This holds the goods in place and keeps it from getting injured.
Padding Around
From shoulder pads to pads for the tailbone, this protective gear allows football players to take hits without feeling the full impact and even recover from hard fall. Now, shoulder pads protect the shoulders, neck, and chest, which means they must fit snugly. Loosely fitted padding will not absorb force, putting the player at risk for serious injury. Other football pads include:
* Collar Pads/Neck Rolls
* Elbow Pads
* Forearm Pads
* Girdles
* Knee Pads
* Thigh Pads
* Rib Protectors
