While playing football, having the proper shoulder pads is extremely necessary. They help increase the range of movements and protect the shoulder joints, surrounding bones, and connecting muscles. Since protection against injuries from sudden impacts, accidental fall, accelerating football, and many others is the main purpose of the football shoulder pads, getting the best product from the market is paramount.
However, as a football shoulder pad has several features varying from one product to another, choosing the best is not a piece of cake. The task is worrisome, daunting, and becomes quite intimidating at some point of time. That's why we have discussed some relevant factors about football shoulder pads, which will help you to select the perfect fit for your upcoming tournament.
What Are The Major Parts Of A Football Shoulder Pad?
Neck
The first part to focus on is the neck. It is the V-shaped or circular opening through which you can slide your head. Once done, the protection pad will sit on your bones while the cups will cover the ball and socket joint of the shoulder girdle.
Rivet
The rivet can be considered as the connecting part between the outer plastic shell and the inner cushion padding. This part is usually manufactured with strong and durable material so that all the components of the shoulder pad can remain at the same place, no matter what your playing style or field position is.
Epaulet Or Flap
The flap is an extended part of the football shoulder pad, which is added at the extreme top. It provides extra protection to the shoulder joint, scapula, and other parts of your cervical and radicular region.
Cup
Cup is smaller in size than the flap but has the same shape and sits underneath the outer epaulet. To add extra protection, the cup is extended downwards to cover the humerus bone of your upper arm.
Auxiliary
The auxiliary, sometimes known as the Bias, is an extra inner cushion padding that can absorb the shocks from sudden impact with other players or the ball accelerating.
Central Body Cushion
Along with protecting the shoulders, the entire pad's structure is designed in a way so that it can protect your chest, especially the rib bones, which are quite delicate and can suffer a fracture during accidental fall or collisions. So, to prevent such disasters, a central body cushion is present in the shoulder pad covering the entire chest till the diaphragm.
Belt With Buckle
The belts with buckles or hooks will help you secure the pad around your body, especially the chest and the upper abdomen. Hence, the protective gear wouldn't become loose while playing the game.
What Factors Should You Consider To Select The Best Football Shoulder Pad?
Field Position
It would be best if you consider your dedicated field position first before selecting the football shoulder pads. The features of the gear will vary according to the position you will be playing in. For example, if you are a quarterback, you don't need extra flap covers on the shoulder region as the inner padding is capable enough to absorb the force of impact. But, if you are playing in different positions, you need to have multi-position pads with a strong and secure fitting, and a hard outer shell casing to protect you against any injury.
Fitness And Size
Once you have selected the products according to your field position, you need to focus on fitting the gear around your chest and shoulder region. Usually, the neck region is large enough to avoid any problem while sliding your head through it. But you need to consider the fitness of the shoulder pad size when you have multiple flaps or cups on the shoulder joint, internal chest cushion padding, and other such parts.
Construction Design
The next factor you need to think about is the design of the football shoulder pad. The construction must be strong, robust, and sturdy. The outer shell should be strong enough to prevent the shocks from collision reaching your bones and muscles down the arms and the shoulder. Similarly, the chest padding should be thick to absorb maximum momentum at collision with another player or the ball.
Weight Of The Pad
Also, you need to think about the weight of the shoulder pad and consider a product that you can wear comfortably. If the weight is more, you will have difficulties moving your arms and shoulders in different directions. Hence, playing football will become a daunting task for you.
What Are The Features You Need To Look For In The Shoulder Pad For Playing Football?
1. Different types of polymers are used in the manufacturing of the internal padding. Some brands even offer customization of the padding’s thickness according to your body needs.
2. In certain football shoulder pads, you can see small holes present on the outer shell. These holes not only improve the ventilation but also help you in staying more comfortable during the games.
3. A buckled belt is present at the sides with which you can secure the vest padding tightly around your chest and the shoulders.
4. The flap and cups play an important role in protecting your shoulder girdles, the collar bones, and the upper arms from any type of injury.
What Are The Different Football Shoulder Pad Accessories You Can Buy?
To make your football shoulder pad more powerful and protective, you can add several accessories to the gear. For example, the backplates will help protect your cervical spine with half the thoracic part if you are playing in the middle of the field. Neck rolls can also be used to prevent snapping of the neck bone and protect the tendons and cartilages from permanent injuries. Rib guards will help in protecting your rib bones starting from the sternum or the breast bone.
Football Shoulder Pad FAQ
Q. Does the football shoulder pad come with adjustable closure at the middle of the chest structure?
A. Yes, in some of the football shoulder pads, you can find a cross lace closure system with which you can place both the chest pads correctly over your rib bones to avoid any accidental injuries.
Q. Can I add more flaps on the outside in a football shoulder pad?
A. No, you cannot add extra flaps on the outside of the product because they are riveted to the internal cushion padding at the time of manufacturing.
Q. Why do I need to consider the field position while buying a football shoulder pad?
A. Considering the field position is essential for purchasing a football shoulder pad because the protective features vary from one product to the other based on your position.