All You Need To Know About Football Rib Protectors

By Author: Jeriah Cohen
Total Articles: 12
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American football has aggression, therefore, players are often told to arm themselves with proper gear. The article talks about importance of these gear and shares relevant information about their usage.

The violence of American football makes it unavoidable for football players to use different protective gear. Shoulder pads, thigh pads and helmets are required gear, while many other different pieces of protective gear are rather optional, including rib protectors, also known as rib guards. Many quarterbacks and receivers would never play without rib protectors, but other football players would simply not consider them.

Putting on rib guards is quite simple. While they may unsurprisingly feel a bit uncomfortable at first, they simply prevent injury. By ensuring the correct size is picked and worn, it should prevent the football player from incurring injuries. As I said, the first step should be choosing the correct size. Rib guards sizes are usually determined by chest sizes and measuring chest sizes is quite easy. Simply have a friend take a measuring tape and start at your breastplate and wrap the measuring ...
... tape around your back until the tape meets the start. After that, you can easily determine the correct size.

Most protector guards can either be easily attached into the bottom of the shoulder or simply worn separately. Football players secure rib protectors to the bottom part of their shoulder guards. The rib protectors attach to four bottom pieces of the shoulder guards at the back and front of the right and left sides. Rib protectors need to be tight to the player's body so they simply don't block football player's passing, running, blocking or receiving.

Generally ribs guards that are hooked to shoulder guards should simply snap into place as extenders. While the ones with suspenders need to be put on first, before shoulder guards, to ensure the correct fit. Once your rib protectors are in, make sure your pads are not very tight. Because wearing them too tight may cause some nasty injuries as well.

Quarterbacks

Players often wear rib guards when they are coming back from an injury. Unfortunately the ribs are generally exposed, especially in the throwing or jumping process and can be very sensitive. Yet, rib guards can also affect a player's ease of motion and mobility. And that is the reason why some quarterbacks will simply avoid wearing rib protectors.

Receivers

Many receivers wouldn't play without rib guards. Because when a receiver has to jump in order to make a catch, his sensitive rib cage is completely exposed to any hit. The rib guards will usually absorb the major part of the hit when the player goes up to make a catch. So wearing a rib guard will allow players to chase the ball without being intimidated. That being said, some receivers feel rib guard is restrictive since wearing football rib protector keeps them from running at top speed, while other players believe the absorption is pretty necessary.

Linemen

Linemen seldom wear rib guards because offensive linemen usually wear extra tight uniforms and undersized shoulder pads to avoid any kind of grabbing. While defensive linemen simply don't want rib protectors slowing them down. So unless linemen are coming back from a nasty rib injury, they just refuse to wear any kind of rib pads.

Author of the article recommends Neo Athletics for purchasing high quality football padded shirt, football uniforms, sublimates uniforms, and other protective gear at affordable prices.