In the market for Football equipment? Whether it’s your first season or you’re looking to upgrade your current gear, being prepared will help you excel on the gridiron. You’ll want to have all of the equipment and accessories you need to play safe and play hard. Start with the basics and work up to additional gear based on what you need.
Essential Gear
Before you can play, you should make sure you have the essentials to protect yourself and give you the best chance to play at your best. For your safety, here’s everything we recommend you should have before stepping onto the field.
Football Helmet
Football helmets are one of the most important pieces of protective gear on the field. They offer protection for your head to avoid serious injuries, so it’s important to find one that fits you comfortably and meets safety standards. Sometimes, leagues have regulations on what’s allowed. Put simply, they need to have internal padding and be clear of visible damage. It’s worth taking your time to get this one right – safety first!
Visors are another helpful add-on to reduce glare and protect a player’s eyes from debris.
MouthGuards
Mouthguards are crucial to protect your jaw, mouth, lips, teeth, and gums from impact. Basic mouthguards don’t do much but offer better protection than nothing. It’s worth looking into high-quality mouthguards that offer custom features based on your skill level.
Chin Strap
A chin strap secures the helmet in place so that it doesn’t get knocked off by sudden impacts or jarring movements. Impacts in this area can be particularly dangerous, so look for chin straps that have a hard plastic shell with interior padding to absorb impacts.
Football Cleats
Football cleats provide traction and support so that players can move quickly during play. Depending on your position and playing conditions, you may need different types of cleats. For example, cleats for linemen are often high-cut, which provides more support and stability, whereas cleats for receivers are often low-cut, allowing for quick cuts and explosive movements.
Cleats also vary in style and material. Leather cleats tend to be more durable but are heavier and harder to clean. Synthetic cleats are lightweight and breathable but may not be as sturdy. Overall, you should consider the position you play and make sure that the shoes offer the support you need. They should be able to take a beating!
Shoulder Pads
It doesn’t matter how much experience you have – tackles hurt. Shoulder pads are essential to give you protection and confidence. What you need depends on your position. Defensive positions require thicker pads, while agile positions may benefit more from thinner pads to reduce weight.
Football Gloves
Gloves help players get traction when grabbing the ball. These come in two types: gloves for wide receivers and gloves for linemen.
Lineman Gloves – These gloves come with padded fingers, are bulky, and generally offer more protection.
Receiver Gloves – These gloves are tacky to help catch and hold the ball.
Backplates
Backplates are very important for any player at any skill level. Often, they are used by players in positions prone to getting hit from the back or the side. The lower spine is sensitive, and damage to this region can be catastrophic. There are some important factors to consider when getting a backplate:
Size – A backplate that’s too small won’t cover your back, while one that’s too big may be too loose and uncomfortable.
Fit – Backplates are connected by straps and hardware, and it’s important to make sure it’s put on correctly so that it offers protection for the user.
You can check out a wide selection of high-quality backplates here.
Extra Padding
The more protection you have, the more you reduce your risk of injury when playing a high-contact sport like football. Standard padding includes shoulders, hips, thighs, and knees, but you can also add some extra padding in other areas. These are used all the way up to professional play. Additional pads can supplement good conditioning to build resilience on the gridiron. Some examples of extra padding include
Back Pads
These pads hang down from the shoulder pads and provide back support and protection.
Rib Pads
These pads wrap around the ribs to protect the torso from impact.
Neck Rolls
A pad common among quarterbacks and linebackers to protect the neck.
Athletic Cup
This gear protects the genitals from being injured during play.
Elbow, Forearm, and Arm Pads
Ideal for protection while tackling, this padding protects the arms from injury.
Important Football Gear and Accessories
To make practice sessions and games better, you’ll want to have these football accessories.
Sports Bag
A good quality sports bag gives you a place to protect and carry all your equipment when you’re not using it. Ideally, the sports bag should be sturdy and specially designed to hold your gear. That includes simple conveniences like being able to hang your bag on a fence or locker. The bags available at Caisson come in a variety of styles and come with lots of features, including:
- Waterproof fabric (500D PVC)
- Waterproof construction (high-frequency welded)
- Waterproof zippers
- Adjustable interior shelving system
- Straps for backpack, crossbody, luggage carry options
- Utility sleeve for devices, personal items access and storage
- Stick/bat/racquet storage option
- Bungee net for alternate helmet/ball storage option
- Removable interior pouch
- Fence/locker hook
- Additional large, secure, waterproof pocket on the back
- Designed/engineered in USA
Football Gear
It’s good to have a football of your own that you can use around the neighborhood or at practice while you don’t have another one available. Check with your coach to see what brand and size the game ball is. That way, you can make sure you buy something that’s similar or identical to the football you’ll be using in actual games.
Water Bottle
A high-quality water bottle will help you stay hydrated during long games and practices. Hydration is an important part of any sport. Insulated stainless steel bottles and squeeze bottles are popular choices since they’re convenient, sturdy, and good on the go.
When you’re stocking up for the season, it’s good to start with the basics and work your way up. Talk with your coach or more experienced players to get their recommendations, and always prioritize safety on the gridiron. If you’re looking for something to up your game, Caisson has a wide selection of top-rated sports gear trusted by athletes and recommended by coaches.
