Various Costs of Football Equipment

It's important to get familiar on what football equipment to purchase and the costs involved in making those purchases. This post is intended for parents with children that play football, from Pop Warner, all the way up to high school.

I will discuss the four areas you should purchase. This includes helmets, shoulder pads, thigh pads, and shoes. There have been some technological advances within the last few years that

Youth Football Helmets can range in price from $50 - $120.

For safety concerns, a quality helmet cannot be stressed enough. Fitment is crucial to ensure safety. Concussions are always a possibility. Using the proper helmet that has been measured for the proper fitting for the specific player, it can reduce the impact involved when a hit or tackle occurs. Helmets should be taken cared for and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. To determine the size of helmet needed, players should measure the circumference of their head at about 1 inch above the eyebrows. Do not measure any higher or lower than 1 inch above the eyebrows.

To get the proper sizing when buying a football helmet, it is important to consider the helmet position while wearing it. Best fit should be that the front edge of the helmet opening should be approximately 1 inch above the eyebrows.

Shoulder Pads can range in price from $30 - $150.

Thigh Pads can range in price from $10 - $100.

Shoes/Cleats can range in price from $20 - $120.

You must buy additional items as well. One essential item to purchase is the mouthpiece. It will protect the players teeth from smashing together from those jarring hits that will occur.

There are many non-essential items that one may purchase. For example, football gloves are not essential, but they are nice to have. It provides the player with greater grip to hold onto the ball or to catch the ball. The gloves can range in price from $20 - $99. Are they effective? I believe that in competition, if it is a legal piece of football equipment, by all means, purchase it.

There are also lineman gloves that are used to prevent players damaging there hands by hitting the other player's face mask or helmet.

There are many other items to consider for purchase. Consider your budget while making these decisions carefully. I cannot stress enough the importance of safety. The helmet should be one of your first considerations for purchase.