Football Equipment Guide

Posts Tagged ‘youth football equipment’

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

Jonquil Sporting Goods’ Craig Brooks shows us how to ensure a proper fit for a youth football helmet.

Transcript is included above the video. I’ve put the transcript in a scrollable box so that you can still watch while reading.

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

These pieces come in pairs.
They go over the shoulder pad neck roll on each side to offer additional neck protection by keeping the head and neck stable from the left and right sides.
As all other restrictor pieces meant to prevent burners, these attach securely to the shoulder pad neck roll which attaches to the shoulder pad.
Used in conjunction with neck rolls and neck roll restrictors, you will have optimum stability while still allowing free movement.
The key here is to keep the head from bouncing or snapping suddenly in any single direction while still allowing the player the freedom to move their head as they need.
Lateral restrictors, when used properly, do just that.

Back to “How to Prevent Burners in Football“

Yea, your shoulder pads suck if they don’t follow some simple rules.

When speaking about football equipment, one of the first things that come to mind, second only to football helmets, are the shoulder pads.  Unless you think you’re funny or you’re just some pervert, in which case you would blurt out jockstraps.
Either way, when thinking about the shoulder pads, one would only consider it’s function of protecting the shoulders from all of those cracks and crashes on the field.
As outlined in some other posts of mine, the shoulder pad also can function as a stabilizer for the helmet when used in conjunction with various restrictors.

The shoulder pads, when closely looked at, carries many different intricate details in it’s make-up. For starters, the shoulder pad has a hard plastic shell with foam padding underneath. The pads fit over the shoulders and the chest and rib area, and are secured with various snaps, buckles, straps and ties.
Take a look:

Pictured above is the Schutt Y Flex Youth All-Purpose Football Shoulder Pad. A great purchase for your youngster, especially if he doesn’t want shoulder pads that suck.

What to look for when purchasing shoulder pads:
1) Shoulder pads that allow free movement- The last thing you need or your child needs is to be cramped up on the field. People will be coming at you from all angles and you need to be able to move. Do not overlook this. Just because your pads are stiff does not mean you’ll be safer.

2) Comfortable- If I’m going to be out there for a couple hours, my heaviest piece of padding had better be comfortable. I’m sure some of you might disagree as some of you might want be reminiscent of the early days of football. For you, I urge you, until you strap on your moleskin helmet ala Admiral Reeves and hit the field, shut your mouths, you posers.

3) Excellent protection- DUH. This is the main qualifier in this list. You can throw all of the other points in this list in sacrifice for this one. Don’t waste your time searching for a comfortable set of shoulder pads only to find out they’re comfortable because they offer crap protection. Unless of course various trips to the ER for head, neck, shoulder, and chest injuries are your thing.

4) High quality- Yes, the old saying is true. You get what you pay for and I can guarantee that a good trusted brand of shoulder pads are going to be of better quality than the no-name set of shoulder pads you found at Wal-Mart.

5) Lightweight- The shoulder pads are already the heaviest piece of equipment in your locker, try not to make this any worse than it needs to be.

6) Price- If you can find a set of shoulder pads for roughly $100 that match all of the above criteria, you found a good investment.

To wrap this all up, shoulder pads need to essentially do 2 things:
1) Absorb shock on impact.
2) Distribute the shock across the larger area of the shoulder pads so the impact isn’t exclusive to one spot.

Find a pair of shoulder pads that meet up to the criteria I outlined above and you will have a good set of shoulder pads that do the above two necessary jobs.