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Football is a major American pastime, with ever-increasing popularity and participation. Originally derived from the English sport of rugby, the game was modified by students in New England and soon reached widespread popularity. Originally quite a violent sport, early players wore no protection besides basic clothing and the occasional leather helmet. Nowadays, however due to the many injuries in the past, players are required to wear a long list of protective equipment and clothing. Take a look at some of the required football gear, and make sure you don't start playing the game without proper equipment!
Football: The basic starting point for all football equipment, the football is the oval-shaped ball used to play the game. Made from leather and high-quality stitching, footballs are designed aerodynamically, able to spiral when thrown and to reach long distances at high accuracy.
Helmet: A football helmet is required for all players in competitive games. With durable plastic coverings and high-impact foams, the helmets are designed to withstand considerable abuse during games while protecting the wearer's head from injury. Additionally, helmets come with a plastic or metal grill face guard, which can protect a player from facial injury from inadvertent blows. The face mask is an important aspect of the helmet also for protecting a player's nose, which could otherwise get broken during the rough football play.
Mouth Guard: A mandatory part of any football player's protective equipment, the mouth guard protects a players teeth as well as helping to avoid concussions from head blows. They also help players avoid biting their tongues from hard hits. Mouth guards are fitted to a player's personal specifications, and should be put in prior to all plays.
Athletic Shoes: The proper shoes are a must for all serious football players, as they add a significant amount of speed and mobility to a players movement. Shoes come in a variety of styles, including high-top shoes, which protect a players ankles; low-top shoes, which are lighter and give a faster feel to a player's feet; and mid-cut shoes, which provide a balance of protection and speed. Football shoes also come with variety of studs or cleats on the bottom of the sole. Cleats can either be molded into the sole of the shoe, generally for youth or younger players, or can be removable and interchangeable, using a special cleat wrench to add or remove the individual cleats. Cleats come in a variety of sizes, depending on the surface you are playing on. Generally, the wetter or more slippery the surface, the longer cleat you should have.
Shoulder Pads: The first, and probably most important layer of body protection, shoulder pads are designed to deflect and absorb hits to a players shoulders, chest, and back. Of course, shoulder pads are crucial for avoiding injury to the arms and shoulders, but they are also very important for avoiding neck and back injuries, as they have a solid and sturdy back support built-in to their design. Shoulder pads come it two varieties, flat and cantilevered pads. Cantilevered pads are bulkier and heavier than flat pads, but offer more protection. Flat pads are lighter and faster, and are designed for greater mobility.
Leg Pads: Thigh and leg pads are another important part of a football player's equipment, as they protect a player from leg injury. Thigh pads are thick padding worn underneath a player's uniform, positioned to protect the quadriceps muscles. In addition, many players wear knee pads, as well as small pads on the lower back to protect the hip and tail bone.
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