Football success boils down to grit, physical conditioning, and determination. It’s a demanding, contact-heavy contest that calls for proper protection, hydration, and agility enhancement.
If you’re preparing a player for their first scrimmage (and the gridiron feels like a foreign land), you may wonder what to bring to football practice.
Ensure a dynamite debut by setting them up with a fresh set of core essentials designed for safety and highlight reel-worthy performance.
#1 Football Helmet
The number one piece of gear for practice? A sturdy, well-constructed helmet. Football features high-impact collisions, and a fortified helmet guards against:
- Concussions
- Fractures
- Facial cuts and scars
High-end helmets rely on a burly outer shell to scatter concussive force across a greater surface area, minimizing impact. Helmets also feature1:
- Interior padding – Helmet padding compresses under pressure and prevents the head from rattling (the main concussion culprit).
- Face mask – Face masks shield the mouth and face from falls, wayward elbows, and tackles. They also prevent facial lacerations and fractures.
- Outer foam layer – Some newer helmet designs feature additional padding that envelops the helmet shell for further concussion prevention.
A brain is everyone’s most valuable asset. Fortunately, with well-crafted football headgear, your player can immerse themselves in the rough and tumble while keeping their cranium safe.
Choose the Right Size for Comfort and Protection
Top protection and performance start with proper sizing. A loose helmet will fail to cushion the blows and may shift around, impairing vision and decreasing focus. Too tight, and it’ll trigger headaches and distract from gameplay.
The helmet should sit roughly one inch above the brow, and its facemask should project two to three inches beyond the nose.2 The fit should feel firm yet accommodating.
#2 Shoulder Pads
Next up: shoulder pads. The shoulders absorb huge impact during tackles and pileups. Unguarded shoulders and collarbones easily fall prey to:
- Dislocations
- Fractures
- Bruising
Shoulder pads follow the same playbook as helmets: They disburse collision momentum across a wider surface area and further dull the impact with padding. Football’s constant striking adds up over time, and the different types of football pads neutralize the cumulative strain on the body.
Ensure Proper Fit for Maximum Protection
As with helmets, a supportive fit ensures optimal protection. Padding should shift with the shoulders and leave no gaps. Look for a snug but not constrictive fit.
Padding should fully cover a player’s:
- Shoulders
- Chest
- Back
If you’re noticing gaps or your player complains that their torso feels pinched, try another size. Check out our blog for more on football shoulder pad sizing guidance.
Look for Lightweight Yet Durable Options
Shoulder pads shouldn’t weigh you down, but they need enough heft to withstand a constant deluge of impact.
When shopping, aim for lightweight options that feature high-quality construction made to go the distance.
#3 Football Cleats
Two traits that will elevate you to the heights of the football world?
Speed and agility.
High-quality football cleats play a crucial role in fleet-footed acceleration. They anchor the ankles and supply traction for quick pivots and game-winning drives. Solid football cleats also promote balance, which prevents injuries and enables rapid directional shifting.
Opt for Position-Specific Cleats
Different positions make different demands. Cleats need to match the task. As you weigh your options, consider the position your player handles and go with tailor-made cleats (if they cover more than one position, multiple cleats may be your best play).
Here’s a quick look at what different roles require:
- Linebackers need robust ankle support.
- Receivers rely on traction for speed bursts and yardage gains.
- Quarterbacks need the whole enchilada: speed, agility, and ankle bracing.
Try out several pairs before settling. As you shop, take a targeted approach and seek out champion-level performance. If possible, have your player simulate some of their typical motions and gauge the support level during try-on.
Make Sure They Fit Correctly
Given their supreme importance, cleats must fit properly. Overly snug options will spawn blisters and sore feet.
On the other hand, cleats with excessive play invite ankle injuries and hobble rapid movement. Take several alternatives for a test drive before committing.
#4 Mouthguard
Teeth feature scant natural fortification. Engaging in any high-impact activity risks knocking a few loose—a quick path to unnecessary pain and expense.
Mouth guards protect players’ pearly whites and help prevent cuts and damage to the lips and jaws.
Keep your player’s smile pristine. Invest in a top-notch football mouthguard.
Choose a Comfortable, Custom-Fit Mouthguard
No two sets of teeth are twins, so you’ll want dialed-in protection that molds itself to your player’s grill.
To achieve the ideal, custom fit, consider:
- Boil-and-bite guards – These feature medical-quality materials (often plastic or silicone).3 To mold, briefly submerge the guard in boiling water and allow it to soften. Once it cools enough to touch, bite down and let it form around the teeth.
- Dental mold – You can also purchase custom fits by visiting a dentist’s office and having impressions taken. Some professionals specialize in athletic dentistry and can generate perfect mouth molds.
A well-fitted guard stays firmly in place and protects your player’s smile in the heat of battle. Go with quality for worry-free tackles.
Consider a Football-Specific Mouthguard
While you’re sure to find general-purpose mouthguards all over the market, football-specific options make the best mouthguards for gridiron competition. Football features some of the most intense contact of any sport, and mouthguards fortified specifically for its demands deliver trusted protection.
Learn more about how to choose a football mouthguard in our blog.
#5 Practice Jersey and Shorts
In football, triumph hinges on mobility. Players need freedom to cut, dive, and dodge. Their clothing should keep them comfortable and at liberty to bob and weave.
But when it comes to youth football apparel, options abound. To narrow your scope:
- Opt for breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics – Football’s intensity gets players sweating in a hurry. Keep them dry and up for the long haul by choosing fabrics that banish moisture.
- Ensure gear is weather-appropriate – Rain, snow, sleet, heat—football games sometimes unfold under brutal conditions. Choose versatile apparel that can withstand whatever Mother Nature conjures up.
Check the forecast a few days before practice and plan accordingly. For frigid mornings, you may need to supplement with extra gear, like with a football shiesty and sleeves.
#6 Gloves and Hand Protection
Endless friction takes a toll on the hands and fingers, but a solid pair of football gloves can protect players’ digits (and may even help them throw better passes).
Even if the player in your life isn’t catching or throwing many passes (we see you, defensive linemen), gloves can help protect players’ hands from:
- Scrapes and cuts
- The cold
- Sunburn
Select Gloves for Better Grip and Comfort
How do you choose the perfect pair of gloves? Opt for pairs that offer a solid grip and a snug fit. Since they make contact with the ball, you’ll want high quality material that offers seamless fusion and release.
Measure your player’s hand ahead of time for an ideal fit. Also consider position-specific gloves: receivers need elite grip for endzone grabs, while linemen benefit from extra padding to pacify the pileups.
Learn more about how to choose football gloves in our blog
#7 Water Bottle
Running, tackling, and dodging all levy heavy taxes on the system. Staying in it to win it means aggressively hydrating before, during, and after practice. Make it simple by packing a dependable water bottle for rapid fluid intake.
Ideally, your player’s water bottle should also be easily refillable. Whether there’s a water fountain at the practice fields or the coach brings a giant water cooler, make sure your player can quickly and easily refill their canteen.
Choose an Easy-to-Carry, Durable Water Bottle
When weighing your water bottle options, consider factors like:
- Portability – Young athletes have a habit of staying on the go. Don’t weigh them down with a cumbersome container. Choose a light yet sturdy bottle, ideally with a handle. Streamlined sizes fit better into small bags.
- Volume – When it comes to capacity, aim for balance: spacious enough to keep your athlete hydrated, but not so hefty that they won’t want to lug it around (that’s how water bottles get left behind).
- Style – Youth football offers a perfect environment for hard work, talent, and teamwork. It also provides a stage for kids to show off their flair. Sleek designs earn style points—and you can never have too many of those.
Since it’ll face the rough and tumble of travel and practice, you should also prize durability when shopping for water bottles. Opt for one that can take a licking and still come to play.
#8 Football
Teams often provide footballs, but players should come prepared with their own. This helps with one-on-one drills and post-practice tossing. Plus, having your own football makes for easier practice at home.
Pick a High-Quality, Durable Football
A top-notch ball design will promote a firm grip and enhance flight time.
You’ll also want to select the appropriate size. For youth football, a size 7 or 8 will serve them well.4 For younger players, go with Junior or Pee Wee dimensions.
When it comes to material, you have two main paths5:
- Leather – Genuine game balls usually feature a leather exterior (it offers optimal grip). Leather’s superior playability comes with a higher price tag. It also tends to absorb water and grow heavy under wet conditions.
- Composite – Made from synthetic material, composite balls come cheap and don’t get waterlogged. But their affordability often comes at the cost of a quality grip and much shorter lifespans than leather options.
One potential game plan: Stock up on composite balls for casual practice at the park or in the backyard, and pick up a leather option for games or full-squad practice.
Gear Up with Battle Sports Football Equipment
The gridiron offers some of the toughest competitive territory in all of sports. It takes everything you’ve got to come out on top. Support your player’s dedication and drive with a top-notch set of gear.
As athletes ourselves, the team at Battle Sports knows exactly what rising stars need to endure and dominate. That’s why we’ve assembled a full roster of football apparel and gear to keep your player armed and ready for battle.
Discover our fits today.
Sources:
- Go Rout. Football Helmet Technology: Innovations Transforming the Game. https://gorout.com/football-helmet-technology/
- Nationwide Children’s. Football Equipment Fitting. https://www.nationwidechildrens.org/specialties/sports-medicine/sports-medicine-articles/football-equipment-fitting
- Cambridge City Dental. Why Choose Custom Dental Mouthguards Over Boil & Bite Mouthguards?
- Field Goal Kicker. Football Sizes Chart. https://www.fieldgoalkicker.com/football-sizes-chart/
- Field Goal Kicker. Composite Footballs vs Leather Footballs. https://www.fieldgoalkicker.com/composite-footballs-vs-leather/
- CCD Dental. Why Choose Custom Dental Mouthguards Over Boil & Bite Mouthguards?. https://ccdental.com.au/blog/why-choose-custom-dental-mouthguards-over-boil-amp-bite