Football Pads & Protective Gear

Football Pads: These are safety equipment that all football players wear while playing football. The importance of the pad is to save the player from high injury.

Everybody knows American football is one of the most dangerous games in the world and injury is common. Because of its rules and game-playing style.in this game, a football player and a group of players block the against player or group of players.

When they block their opponent player, they face different kinds of collisions and tackles. To become injured is compulsory.

Here, Pads play a very important role in the American football game. The players wear different parts of their body such as the chest, shoulder, elbow, knee, and thigh..These come with different types, shapes, and designs according to the body parts.

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After comming new technology, football pads also became high-quality and more durable than older pads.

You can see changes in design, material, size, and shape. The football pad manufacturing companies always try to build high-protective and comfortable pads for the player.

So, wearing a football is mandatory, and you must have to wear pads before entering the field.
Here, we discuss about the history of football pads, their types, and the materials used.

History of Football Pads

Let’s go to the history of the football pads.

The late 1800s was the early stage of football pad development. at that time, football players did not wear any advanced pads and gear. so, Injury was common.

The first pads were made of leather and cotton, as you might say homemade pads.

In the early 1900s, harnessed shoulder pads were launched, The pads were more protective than earlier pads, But these were still relatively heavy and restrictive.

In the 1960s and 1970s.That was the time football pads began made of plastic materials. They were very lightweight and durable.

Today, Football pads are made of high-tech materials such as such as polycarbonate, shock-absorbing foam, and Kevlar. These are highly protective, lightweight, and strong. You will get a lot of brands with different designs and shapes.

Types of Football Pads

According to the needs of football players body parts. The pads come in different shapes and sizes. Each pad has specific significance and safety features added to it.

The main football pads include:

  1. Shoulder Pads: These pads are the most recommendable football gear for all football players. These save your upper chest, shoulder, and collarbone. These pads are significantly more advanced over time, Becoming more lighter and flexible without compromising protection.
  2. Helmet: This is one of the most important protection gear for a football player. It is especially safe the skull from injury.Today.Helmets are very advanced and high-quality materials are used.it absorbs the impacts by absorbing material and padding, facemasks, and chinstraps save the face from any impacts.
  3. Chest and Rib Pads: These pads are designed to protect the chest ribcage. These have come in different types, colors, and sizes. These pads are worn by players under the jersey and are made with lightweight material and flexible material. it also allows the player to move any direction freely.
  4. Hip and Tailbone Pads: football girdles are made to protect the hip, thigh, and tailbone. These pads are come with readymade, Pads are sewn with the pants. Some of the old girdle customize options available.
  5. Thigh and Knee Pads: These pads are very useful for the thighs and knees. knee injury is one of the most terrible injuries. It may break knee joint. you will get pocket to put pads in the thigh and knee area in the girdle or football pants.
  6. Neck Roll: The work of the neck roll is to hold the neck properly.it is attached to the shoulder pads and rounded the neck. When the player falls on the ground or is hit by another player, it saves the player from head and neck injury.

Components of Football Pads

High-tech and current football pads are made with several important components. These components role certain importance in football player protection.

  1. Shell: it is made with highly durable materials like hard plastic and carbon fiber. This is seen in the outer layer of the football pads. it is the first line of protective layer against the impacts and collisions.
  2. Padding: it is built to absorb and distribute the impact. Padding foam materials like EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) and TPU (thermoplastic urethane).
  3. Straps and Fasteners: These adjust the pads to the footballer player’s body and give a comfortable fit.
  4. Ventilation: modern pads are come-in ventilation system features that provide coolness to the player during the game. Airflow is most important for controlling overheating. without ventilated pads cause skin diseases and extreme heat.

Importance of Football Pads

First of all. No pads means No entry. It is compulsory football equipment, and players have to wear it on the field. Football is a high-collision game, each step, players can impact of injury.
Here I explain the reason why Pads are very important

  1. Injury Prevention: Football is high contact game and injury is common. So, Here pads play a very important role in reducing the impacts. Injuries can be Fractures, muscle strains, ankle sprains, concussions, and others.
  2. Enhanced Confidence: Pads increase your confidence level Because pads ensure that you are safe from injuries in pads.
  3. Extended Playing Careers: It can extend your football player career if the player once became highly injured, it is likely not possible to come back. without pads or low-quality pads can destroy a player’s career life.
  4. Compliance with Safety Regulations: Whenever a game is organized, strict rules and regulations on safety gear including pads are enforced by the organization and league.
  5. Improved Performance: Pads are not only designed for protection but also to boost the performance of the player. Pads allow players to support and comfort and perform best.

Latest Technology in Football Pad

Over the years, and after technology came, football pad design and additional features are continuously growing. Nowadays, you can get all kinds of comfort and features such as cooling technology, GPS tracking, and concussion detection:

Here are some technologies included:

  1. Shock Absorption Materials: These kinds of materials absorb the impact and help to disappear more effectively. such as the material are Foam, Rubber, Elastomers, Sorbothane, D3O, and Microlattice, which have improved the pad’s performance.
  2. Lightweight Design: The Pad’s lightweight Design is also very impressive, it provides you better mobility and comfort without compromising protection.

Customization

Some manufacturers offer custom-fitted pads 3D scanning and printing.is one of the custom-fitted pad technology. where The machine scans the player’s body and creates a 3D model of the player, it makes pads according to the model. These kinds of pads are well-fitted, comfortable, and highly protective.

  1. Smart Pads: These pads track the real-time data of the player related to health.where they can improve and resolve any issue related to health, which is an amazing technology of the current time.
  2. Sustainability: Pads-providing companies always try to reduce the environmental impact and make eco-friendly long-lasting products.

Conclusion

Since the beginning of football, many rules and regulations have changed.at the same time, We also get new and improved pads day by day, Now, The players wear highly advanced gear including pads. Not only football the players also wear a variety of pads in different sports. So, Pads are very important equipment to prevent injury.

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