The equipment you absolutely must have to play football

Football, also known as gridiron is a tough tough sport. Not everyone can play it. It drains the individual both, mentally and physically. Of all the sports, football has the most detailed list of equipment that a player must have. The list is large because football is a direct contact and dangerous sport. 99% of the NFL (National Football League) players suffer from brain damage because of the sport. There are nearly 60 concussions for every 100,000 games or practices of high school football. Nearly 215,000 children aged 5 – 14 suffered serious injuries as a result of playing football. Now these statistics are of the players who wear proper uniforms when playing. Now just think how high these numbers would go if the players weren’t wearing the proper gear and equipment. Football is quite unforgiving and has the tendency to ruin lives. But the heart wants what it wants right? So if your kids or you yourself are starting to play football, you better invest your money in getting the proper equipment to keep you protected. The equipment you absolutely must have to play football are:

1. A Good Quality Helmet
   A helmet is by far one of the most important piece of equipment you need. It protects the wearer from sustaining injuries to the head during the practice sessions or the games. The helmets are made of a hard tough plastic (polycarbonate alloy). Inside they have a soft padding to absorb the impact. In front of the helmet there is a metal grill (also known as the face mask). The face mask protects the front of the face from an impact. The helmet also has a chin-strap that keeps in its place even after the constant running and tackling. Proper helmets hold a lot of importance and are a must have.
2. A Cup Or A Jockstrap
   A protective cup (also known as a jockstrap) is a cup like piece of equipment that protects the male genitalia from any impact while playing the sport. They are made out of a hard plastic and have a soft gel pad surrounding the edges. This prevents the cup from digging into the skin. Injuries down there are extremely painful and can get life threatening, which is why no matter how big or strong you are, you should always purchase a good quality cup.
3. Thigh, Chest, Hip, Knee and Shoulder Pads
   Your thighs, knees, shoulders, chest and hips should be strong if you want to play any sport well. However no player has body parts strong enough to withstand fast, ferocious and painful football tackles. These tackles often result in painful bruises, torn ligaments, concussions, broken bones and etc. Which is why to keep yourself safe you better invest in these pads. The shoulder pads and the chest pad are made up of hard plastics and have a soft, shock absorbent foam lining underneath. The other pads are also made of plastic and are inserted inside the pockets of the football pants.
   These protective pads are crucial for the safety of the player and are a must have.
4. A proper Football Jersey and Football Pants
   You might be thinking that a football jersey or football pants aren’t of much importance when it comes to you think about safety of the player. Well change that thinking because a football jersey and football pants play a crucial role in the safety and well-being of the player. Here’s how. Football jerseys are made of stretchable, breathable, quick drying and moisture wicking fabrics. They keep the players comfortable, but apart from that they also house and hold together the protective upper body pads that a player wears. Its tight fitting keeps all the paddings in place even during runs and tackles. Just the way football jerseys protect the upper body, football pants protect the lower body. Football pants are made out of spandex and lycra. This gives these pants a tight fit and makes them stretchable and tear resistant. The football pants have pockets in them that house the different paddings. The pants keep them in place even when the player is running, jumping, tackling and etc. The pants keep the lower body paddings at the right place for the right time. You should always invest in a good quality football jersey and football pants. They simply are a must have.
5. Football Cleats
   Football is a game that requires a lot of grip and traction that too on grass and so normal shoes cannot provide that. That’s why football cleats come in. Football cleats have large spikes underneath that provides players with grip and on the grass and prevents them from slipping and falling. Apart from the grip, these cleats provide support and cushioning to the ankle and saves the wearer from numerous ankle injuries.