Football season is on its way, and people all over the country are starting to purchase new gear. Along with standard gear, accessories are an important part of any players set of equipment. Little things like gloves or eye shields can be the difference between either performing well or losing your mojo on the field, so don’t let yourself be caught without!
With so many accessories on the market, it’s hard to know which ones are a must. To help you out, we have consulted with a top youth football coach in the area and a semi-pro football player to get the top ten must have list of accessories.
10. Skull Caps
- Running around in the heat with bulky padding can get a person pretty sweaty and the last thing you want during a game is having sweat running down into your face distracting you and obstructing your vision. Skull caps are a great fix for this. Wearing a skull cap under your helmet can help wick moisture away from your head and face, so you will keep cooler, drier, and more alert without the distraction of sweat in your eyes.
9. Wrist/Arm Bands
- Wrist and arm bands not only win a player style points, but also perform the important function of keeping sweat off a player’s hands and arms. The less moisture on the hands and arms, the better chance a player has of making a clean catch or pass.
8. Back Plate
- Only certain positions use back, but they were still important enough to make our list. Back plates give additional support and added safety to the lower back that shoulder pads alone don’t provide. This added protection can come in handy when a player gets tackled or stuck in a dog pile. Back plates are usually specific to certain shoulder pads or brands. Get back plates from Schutt, Rawlings, Douglas and Adams here.
7. Chin Strap
- Many helmets come standard with a soft vinyl chin strap, but these are pretty much useless when it comes to protection. For the most comfort and safety, a well padded, hard cup chin strap is recommended. Schutt and Shock Doctor are two of the best known brands. You can get them at a discount on HRS!
6. Chinstrap Cup Sleeve
- Though they can be found in almost any team color, cup sleeves are more than just a fashion accessory. When a player sweats, even the best of chin straps can start to slip around on the chin which can be uncomfortable and cause your helmet to slip around as well. A good cup sleeve can wick moisture away from the chin to help keep you dry and your chinstrap and helmet in place.
5. Hand Warmers
- Playing in cold weather isn’t so bad when you have the right protection from the elements. Cold hands can effect a players ability to make throws or catch passes, so keeping warm is important. Many hand warmers are designed to be worn around the waist. This keeps them handy for when a player needs them but out of the way during plays.
4. Compression Shirts/shorts
- Compression garments help keep players either cool or warm by absorbing moisture away from the body and providing insulation in cool weather. When it comes to compression garments, not all are the same. For hot weather, a player would need a light weight compression shirt or shorts made from moisture management material. In cold weather moisture management material is still important. A long sleeved compression shirt and garments made from thicker material are recommended.
3. Wrist Coach
- Wrist coaches are the key to a successful offense. When a team executes a play, keeping everyone in unison is important. With wrist coaches, everyone on the team can have a copy of the play on the field with them. This helps keep mistakes down and the team working as a unit. Wrist coaches are meant to be worn on the wrist or forearm, but many players also wear them attached to their belts. No matter where you put it, the wrist coach is a definite must have.
2. Eye Shield
- Keeping a players vision clear is essential for success. There are many products on the market that are meant to protect the eyes, but eye shields were by far recommended the most. These can be purchased in both clear and tinted versions. Tinted eye shields are great for protecting player’s eyes from the sun, and both the tinted and clear kinds can help protect the eyes from debris and even other player’s hands.
1. Football Gloves
- The number one recommended football accessory was by far the football glove. Gloves are essential for every position on the field, and come in many different styles to accommodate each position. The most important role gloves play is to increase traction on the hands to help players hold onto the ball. Our semi-pro consultant commented that players never play the same without them, and that a good pair can take a player to a new level.
Well that wraps up our Top 10 list of football accessory must haves. What do you guys think? Post your suggestions in the comments below!
Special thanks for contributions made by Elon S. & Kevin S. in the writing of this article.
