On average, NFL players wear over ten separate pieces of equipment, with some additional pieces that are down to personal choice.
Ready for the list?
Helmet, gum shield, shoulder pads, jersey, girdle, individual pads, pants, socks and boots.
There are also some positions on the field that warrant extra equipment.
For example, an NFl quarterback will likely be wearing a wrist coach (a sweatband with diagrams of plays attached) and as standard, an earpiece and speaker attached to the helmet so the coaches can talk to them before a play.
Interestingly, each earpiece is provided by NFL officials, and they cut the signal between the coach and QB fifteen seconds before the play should start so that there is no communication from the sideline during the play.
But another piece of equipment is being added to the kit manager’s list.
As well as the helmet, some players are opting to wear a Guardian Cap – a bubble-looking padded cap that provides extra protection to the head.
They are often seen being used by players in training and in pre-season, as they also protect the helmet from getting damaged.
They are kept in place by Velcro and elastic straps, and they work by redirecting the force of a collision away from the head.
However, it is now becoming a more common choice to wear them in NFL games.
The league made it legal to wear them during regular season games, as they have reduced the chance of concussion from collisions to 50%.
They must also be in the correct colours of the team and have the team’s logo on the side.
But in the UK, providing Guardian Caps to players is close to impossible.
Football America, the UK’s biggest supplier for American football equipment, sells one style of guardian cap in one colour and for over £60.
American football teams can range from 30 to 53 players, which would be between £1800 and £3180, plus decals.
Solent Redhawks wide receiver, Ollie Price, said: “I would never wear one because it’s like a hat on a hat scenario, but I definitely think they should be accessible to players who want to have that extra bit of protection.”
“It should be a choice if you want to wear one but in the UK you don’t really get the choice. I think it’s really important people feel comfortable playing the sport they love.”
However, despite having access to them, many NFL players still make the conscious choice to play without them.
Miami Dolphins QB, Tua Tagovailoa, returned from his third known concussion four weeks ago but is opting for a position-specific helmet without the cap.
His choice of helmet, the VICIS ZERO2 MATRIX ID, is designed with additional padding in the occipital area, to protect a QB from blows to the back of the head, which is typical for their position.
On the other hand, a lineman would require more protection to the front of the head as they tend to lead block from the front.
So far, the NFL has left it to individual choice as to whether the guardian cap should be worn, and the support of a qualified kit manager adds an extra layer of experience in safe and wise decision making.
