Football Helmets
Football helmets appeared in the 1920s, and became compulsory in the 1940s. Around 1955 facemasks were brought in. Many adult helmets today, are made of polycarbonate, whereas some youth helmets are made of ABS. Once children start attending High School (approx. 12 yrs. old), an adult helmet should be worn; adult helmets are heavier than youth helmets. If a helmet has a NOCSAE certification, this shows it has met standards required for athletic wear. This article discusses the components of a football helmet, including the visor.
Recommended makers of football helmets include: Adams, Schutt, Xenith and Riddell. A helmet contains many parts, the shell material (the hat part), the facemask (the cage/bars to protect your face), padding, a chin strap, and an air system. For youth helmets most facemasks are the same, but for adult helmets, the facemask may differ according to which American football position the person plays (a lineman and a quarterback’s facemask is different).
Most facemasks today are made of steel or titanium. For adults and open cage facemask has horizontal, but no vertical bars – this is a suitable facemask for players like quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, and defensive backfield – all players who need to have good vision. Whereas a closed facemask has horizontal and a vertical bar, which protects the eyes and nose; this is an ideal choice for linemen.
When you buy a facemask, it may come with an abbreviation, which indicates whether it’s Oral Protection only (OPO); or whether it covers other parts of the face, ie. Eyeglass, jaw, and oral Protection (EGJOP). You may also get information about whether the facemask has been reinforced, and whether it’s a single or double wire configuration. Single is better for visibility; double is better for strength in positions where forceful contact with other players is likely.
Football helmets contain padding, which protect the crown of the head, the sides, back and neck, this really helps to cushion the head from any injury during the game. Some helmets will have TPU (Thermoplastic Urethane) which was used by the Air Force and is now used in sport; it makes for really safe padding because it doesn’t compress like foam and is wonderful for impacts. Some helmets offer ‘air systems’ which adds in another layer of cushioning, to protect the head – the air system can be adjusted for each individual. On some it’s necessary to use a helmet pump to inflate the crown, back and jaw pads, as these inflate, this creates a snugger and more tailored fit. A helmet also has a chin strap to protect the chin, with a cup, and it also makes sure that the helmet stays attached securely to the player’s head throughout the game.
Football Visors
An additional part of the football helmet is the visor, this is a crucial part which can protect the player’s eyes and dependent upon conditions, and type of visor, can also aid vision throughout a game. A visor would stop injury accidents from balls, or other players fingers or feet. It can also stop mud/dirt/grit getting into players’ eyes. Well known visor makes, include: Under Armour, Oakley, Schutt, Nike and Xenith.
Football helmet visors are lightweight plastic, that slide under the face-mask part of the helmet, and either attach with quick release catches, or for older helmets, may require a screwdriver to attach, but it really shouldn’t take many minutes. Most visors are recommended to be clear (for safety to check wellbeing/health in case of an injury), though it is possible to purchase tinted shades. It is worth thoroughly checking with the school/league/coach whether a tinted shade would be allowed (as many do not allow this). Visors can have anti-glare properties, which help with sunlight and stadium lights. Visors can also protect against UVA, UVB and UVC light. Many visors are fog, and scratch resistant. Many visors are universal, but do check that it will definitely fit your helmet.
To ensure that you get the right sized football helmet, you can firstly measure your head with a tape-measure or string; then make sure that the edge of the helmet is about one inch above the eyebrows. The chin strap should be centred. The helmet shouldn’t twist or slip, but be snug to the head. It is worth trying on helmets, and trying differing brands, to ensure you get one that fits as perfectly as possible.
The benefits of having a quality helmet, and visor, are that you will be comfortable throughout the game. You will be adequately protected throughout the game, in case of a head injury, of a collision of heads at high speed, or contact from a hand, or foot, or poke. Many modern helmets have quick release buttons, which can be useful in swiftly detaching the facemask, so that the face can be accessed quickly in an injury/accident situation, in case of emergency.
When considering which helmet or visor to purchase, it’s a good idea to look at brand helmets/visors, but also consider what position you play within an American football team. Injuries are relatively easy to prevent, but much more difficult to recover from once sustained (and some can be permanent), so it’s well worth investing in correct protective gear, prior to playing.