Football Equipment Guide

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Rawlings, Sports Industry Leader in Head Protection, Introduces NRG Helmet to National Group of Sporting Goods Team Dealers
ST. LOUIS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Rawlings today announced that in August it will launch its highly anticipated Rawlings NRG football helmet, which was unveiled last Friday to more than 100 sporting goods team dealers from throughout the nation during a two-day gathering at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
The introduction of the NRG helmet formally signals a new and significant “total solution” emphasis on football for Rawlings, which also last week introduced the latest version of the state-of-the-art Rawlings S100 batting helmet during Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game in Anaheim, Calif. Rawlings is the official batting helmet of Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball.
The NRG football helmet, which will be seeded geographically in August and October ahead of a nationwide launch in 2011, joins the Rawlings S100 baseball batting helmet to further support Rawlings’ leadership in protecting the heads of athletes.
NRG – for Neuro Responsive Gear – will be the flagship brand name for the full Rawlings helmet line, which consists of the NRG Quantum for elite-level competition (adult and youth) and the NRG Momentum for youth players. Rawlings also unveiled its SRG line – for Skeletal Responsive Gear – of pads and undergarments that will offer the most complete head-to-ankle combination of protective and performance from one football brand or company. A video demonstrating Rawlings’ full line of protective equipment can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/rawlings1887#p/a/f/0/6ymfTuLITog.
(or view the video below)

The NRG football helmet will lead the brand’s comprehensive advance into the competitive and growing football protective gear and apparel category. The complete Rawlings family of football products, including Zoombang™ protective gear and AIMS™ shoulder pads, was introduced to team dealers by Rawlings president Robert Parish and other company executives.

“Best-in-class head protection is a signature attribute of the Rawlings brand, and that core value is at the heart our new Rawlings NRG football helmet line,” Parish said. “The introduction of the NRG football helmet is significant on numerous fronts. First, it provides Rawlings the opportunity to offer a total solution, or total protection from head to ankle. And it delivers an extremely important message to team dealers, athletic directors, coaches, equipment managers, parents and players, and that is Rawlings is fully, 100 percent, committed to football.”

Presenters from Rawlings recapped the brand’s history in the game and its vision for football with the help of Cowboys Stadium’s $40 million video board above the field. Team dealers in attendance represented locally based sporting goods companies that work and sell directly to high school and college athletic directors, coaches, equipment managers and consumers.

“I think the most important thing to come out of these meetings is that Rawlings has a story to tell,” said John Lassiter of Midwest Sporting Goods in Tulsa, Okla. “They’ve put a lot of effort in getting their football product to this point and it’s pretty impressive. It’s a good story, good technology.

“The most impressive thing they presented was their concept of providing a complete program from uniforms to protective apparel to helmets to shoulder pads. It’s a complete package and maybe the only company in the industry.”

“I think that in just the last couple of years we’ve seen some real technological changes in football equipment and helmets,”

said team dealer Bob Fawley of Capitol Varsity Sports in Oxford, Ohio.

“Rawlings has recognized that at this point they needed to come to the market with a story and technology in place and, based on what I’ve seen here, that’s exactly what they’ve done.

“The football parent and coaches that are out there in the marketplace today want to know how their helmets perform and why. Not that many years ago that question wasn’t being asked. Now with the heightened awareness of concussions and the discussions that are going on, families and coaches want to understand why the helmet performs the way it does.”

“The helmet meets a real spot for us dealers, for quality and price, which we think will be great,” said team dealer John Stote III of Anaconda Sports in Kingston, N.Y. “I liked the way that Rawlings talked about supporting dealers, which in this industry always hasn’t been a strong point. They’re talking to us, they showed their cards, and they brought us in to show us.”

About Rawlings:
Rawlings is a leading marketer and manufacturer of baseball equipment and other sporting goods in the United States. Rawlings is the Official Baseball and Helmet of Major League Baseball® and official ball of the NCAA® baseball championships. Rawlings is also the official basketball for the NAIA®, NJCAA®, AAU® and many other organizations as well as official football of the NAIA®. Rawlings is the official basketball, football, baseball, softball, volleyball and soccer ball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit www.rawlings.com.

Article From: http://www.businesswire.com

Learn about cleats with expert football tips and advice from a former football player in this free American football video clip.
Expert: Vincent Jamal
Bio: Vincent Jamal is a professional football player with seven years of experience in the field. He has spent the last three years playing for the Phoenix Raiders.
Filmmaker: Dustin Daniels

When choosing football cleats, an important thing to consider is what type of turf the football games will be played on. Choose football cleats with tips from a football coach in this free video on football basics.

Expert: Otis St. Clair
Contact: www.ShowtimeSportsAcademy.com
Bio: Otis St. Clair is a former collegiate wide receiver at Ohio University. He is currently a football coach and Operations Manager at Showtime Sports Academy near Nashville, Tennessee.
Filmmaker: Tim Brown

Thanks Otis!

It’s game day and your packing your gear up. Football helmet, Football shoulder pads, football pants, football pads, football neck roll, you see where I’m going with this.
What about your cleats?
Before you even just grab your cleats, you had better check the weather first. What kind of ground will you be playing on? Don’t think it matters?

What I am leading up to is that all players, regardless of the position they play, should have three types of cleats at their disposal.

• Soft ground cleats – These cleats are made for wet weather when it is expected that the ground will be soft and muddy. These cleats are almost always made out of metal and very easy to replace, and believe me, you will need to replace these.
• Firm ground cleats – Made for firm, natural, and drier grounds.
• Hard ground cleats – Made for hard natural surfaces.

Now, you probably won’t need three pairs of shoes, as most cleats are detachable and can be swapped out. Although, having three pairs of shoes suited for each scenario isn’t a bad idea. You sacrifice a bit of quality when you have detachable cleats instead of one solid piece of machined or molded sole.

So back to my list of 5 ways to use your head when you buy football cleats.

1. Know the rules! Seriously, check with your league to get an idea of what type of cleats are allowed. Some leagues vehemently prohibit the use of metal cleats and only allow for molded or detachable rubber cleats. Even further, there are cleat length rules like some leagues that prohibit cleats longer than a 1/2″ in length. Make sure you’re well aware of league limitations before you invest in yoru cleats.
2. Once you know your leagues rules, you need to know what position you will be playing. In youth leagues, especially if your particular skills have not yet been discovered or you have no preference yet, you might wanna just go for a mid sized top as they offer good support and good mobility. However, if you know what position you will be playing, what and how you buy are going to be more focused. For example:
   • High Top cleats – these extend above your ankle to provide extra support. Many linemen wear high-tops because the extra ankle support helps them with their lateral movement and keeps their feet steady when they are taking on the weight of a block. Lineman, go for high tops.
   • Mid Top cleats – these offer more support than low-cut models, but allow more ability to maneuver than high-top cleats. Mid-cuts are the most common cleats, and are especially popular with “skill positions,” like quarterbacks and running backs. It is the right choice for a youth player looking for a good all-around shoe.
   • Low-cuts – lightweight cleats that sacrifice support for a lighter feel. They are favored by wide receivers and defensive backs, positions that benefit from being able to run fast without the feet being weighted down.

   Once you know the position you’ll be playing, you have a basis for the style of cleat you’re going to be looking for.

3. Realize how cleats differ – Cleats made for different sports emphasize support in different areas based on the playing style of the sport. “Football cleats give you more support in the midsole than soccer or baseball cleats,” says Joseph Skiba, equipment manager for the New York Giants. “This helps with lateral movement and with things like taking hits or making tackles.” With a sturdier feel than a soccer cleat, football cleats keep your feet and ankles from turning. This allows for quick movements and helps keep your feet under you when tackling, blocking or taking hits.
4. What kind of studs / spikes should you get? There are two main types of studs or spikes that can go on the sole of your cleat. Most are designed for a specific purpose, like playing on grass or turf, or a combination of both. The type of field you will usually be playing on may influence what type of cleat you choose.
   Molded cleats are permanently attached to the shoe’s bottom. They are usually made of rubber and are generally less expensive than detachable (removable) cleats. Many youth football leagues require players to wear molded cleats, an all-around cleat suitable for most grass fields.
   Detachable cleats use studs that can be removed and replaced, allowing you to change the studs based on the field conditions. Detachable cleats often require a wrench for removing and adding the studs, which can be made out of rubber, hard plastic or metal. On a hard, dry field you might add shorter cleats. On a wet field, you might add longer cleats. Detachable cleats require more maintenance, and it takes experience to know which type of studs you should wear on different playing surfaces. For that reason, they are usually recommended for older, more experienced players.
5. The level of care and maintenance – Cleats, like other shoes, need to be broken in. “Cleats feel better the more they are worn,” says Joseph Skiba, the New York Giants’ equipment manager. “We get a lot of [pro players] complaining about their shoes, and often the problem is that they just keep on wearing new pairs. The more you break it in, the better it will feel.”
   It is also recommended you keep an eye on the condition of your spikes. “With both molded and detachable cleats, make sure to check them frequently to see how much they are wearing down and if they are wearing in an even way. If any spike is wobbly, or very worn down, you need a replacement.” Do not practice or play on wobbly or worn-down spikes.
   With proper care, your cleats can last a long time. Avoid walking on concrete or asphalt to keep your cleats from grinding down or eating away at the plastic coating on some screw-in cleats. Remember to buy an extra set of laces when you buy your cleats and have them with you at games and practices. If your cleats are made of leather, use mink oil or another waterproofing product to help protect the cleats from rain and snow. Use a specialized cleat cleaner or a brush to remove mud and dirt from your cleats.

I hope this gives you a good idea of how and where to start when purchasing football cleats.
Check back later for my personal recommendations and don’t forget to subscribe to my feed!

These pieces of padding offer the ultimate in burner and stinger protection.
They have the esteemed bragging rights of being developed by Division I-A football equipment managers.
As usual, these attach securely and comfortably to the shoulder pads.
You can use butterfly restrictors as stand alone pieces of equipment or use them with a paid of side rolls for an ultimate level of stability.
Safetys and running backs can wear these and rest assured that there neck will be a heck of a lot less likely to snap backwards, resulting in a serious neck injury.

Back to How to Prevent Burners in Football

Kinda funny video by the museum of the obvious. Experiment #5 The obvious invention of the football helmet.

Kind of funny I guess.
But seriously, as I outlined in a previous posting about the origins of the football helmet, the first “football helmet” was designed by a shoemaker for Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves. Turns out the Admiral was knock, knock, knocking on heavens door if he sustained one more serious head injury.

In his battle to dodge death and some tacklers, Reeves commissioned said shoemaker to fashion him up a total piece of crap made out of moleskin.
However, the real breakthrough in helmet history wasn’t until 1917 when a man named Bob Zuppke, a coach from Illinois, came up with the idea of ‘suspension’. He put together a helmet that cradled the skull away from its leather shell, and in effect, away from the detriment of football’s battery. Here, he used straps of fabric to form a pattern inside the helmet while absorbing and distributing impact. Even better, ventilation was created, allowing the head to breathe while amplifying its protection. It was at this point that Rawlings and Spalding, football entrepreneurs of the millennium entered the picture.
After much thought and design, Vern McMillan introduced a face mask, the final stage of the leather helmet’s production. Fastened in the 1930s, it was a simple rubber-covered wire mask attached to the face of the leather helmet. Meant to put an end to the horrendous amount of broken noses and teeth resulting from the game, it produced another problem. Men soon grabbed at each others masks, forcing penalties because of their intimidation attempts.

The neck roll restrictor or “neck roll” is an added layer of protection which attaches to the shoulder pad neck roll as well as the shoulder pads.
Optimal stability is found with this extra piece added onto the neck roll.
It is highly recommended these two pieces are used together at all times during any type of play (practice and regular games).
The neck roll restrictor comes in handy especially during side collisions on the field.
This piece of football equipment will help to keep the neck and head stabilized during sudden impacts.

Neck injuries on the football field are common place and the most serious of which can injure the spine.
Prevention of such crippling injuries can be found with neck roll restrictors when used properly and fastened securely.
Just as the shoulder pad neck roll attaches, the neck roll restrictor attaches much the same way.
Typical set-ups include strings to tie onto the shoulder pad neck roll and shoulder pads, but newer models come with snap fasteners.
These pieces of equipment can range in price from $25 at some places to $150 for more advanced padding’s which help restrict lateral movement.
Defensive ends are known to where these, including Baltimore Ravens defensive end; Terrell Suggs.

Back to “How to Prevent Burners in Football“