How is a football helmet supposed to fit
Heads Up Football - Proper Helmet Fitting - USA Football
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USA Football and Redell invite you to
watch this free helmet fitting tutorial
before you begin please read and
familiarize yourself with the warning
labels that come with your new helmet
and remember a properly fitted helmet is
an important first step and player
protection determining the correct
helmet size is the first and most
important step when fitting a player
into a football helmet just as each
player has an individual skill or talent
each player will have an individual
helmet size in direct proportion to the
circumference of the players head to get
the most accurate circumference
measurement use a soft measuring tape
fixing the tape approximately one inch
above the eyebrows guide the tape around
the players head ensuring the tape
remains flat and taut against the
players skin and hair when the tape is
traveled completely around the players
head determine the helmet size by the
number that appears when the orbit is
complete here's an example of a
circumference measurement guide which
comes in handy when you're matching a
player's circumference measurement to
his corresponding helmet size for the
most accurate results refer to your
helmet manufacturer circumference guide
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before putting on the helmet make sure
that the correct size appears on the
helmet size label after confirming the
appropriate size the player should hold
the helmet with the thumbs over the
bottom of the jaw pads and fingers
against the exterior shell bring the
helmet down at a slight angle with the
face pads first touching the temples for
additional leverage place the index
fingers into the ear holes this should
help bring the helmet straight down into
position all helmets feature interior
padding generally positioned at the
front sides back and crown of the helmet
these pads are for the comfort and
protection of the player and can often
be adjusted to improve player fit many
football helmet models feature air
inflation fit systems the manufacturer
will provide a fitting booklet with a
step-by-step guide to help you with the
inflation fitting process if your helmet
doesn't feature an inflation fit system
the manufacturer may provide other
fitting tools pad sizes or accessories
please refer to the fitting booklet that
accompanies your helmet for detailed
fitting procedures regardless of your
helmet model there are a few goals in
achieving a properly fit football helmet
a properly fitted helmet should rest
approximately one inch above the players
eyebrows a player should never wear a
helmet that's positioned too low or too
high follow the manufacturer's
instructions if helmet height adjustment
is necessary as a final height check
interlock your hands on top of the
helmet and press down on the exterior
shell a properly fit helmet will exert
pressure on the crown of the players
head if when pressing down the player
feels pressure on his brow he doesn't
have a proper fit the interior padding
at the front sides and back of the
helmet should give the player's head
firm cushion support there should be no
room for twisting the skin of the
players forehead should move with the
padding at the front of the helmet
football helmets usually have adjustable
pads at the sides of the players face
and or below the players ear these are
often referred to generically as jaw
pads but they can come in different
shapes and can have important fitting
and protective functions when properly
fit these pads should feel firm against
the players face jaw or under the
players ear depending upon the helmet
model if they look or feel loose if
there's a space between the pad and face
change to a thicker size if they're too
tight change to a thinner size these
pads are sometimes inflatable as well
refer to the manufacturer's instructions
for changing pad thicknesses or
adjusting inflation if the helmet slides
easily over the players forehead refer
to the manufacturers instruction to
adjust the fit or try a smaller sized
helmet finally a snug centered chin
strap is essential for proper helmet fit
all helmets come with either a soft or
hard cup chinstrap buckle the chinstrap
into the snaps located near the helmets
ear holes making sure the cup is
centered and snug over the players chin
the chin strap is adjustable and can
easily be modified to fit the player if
the cup fit is loose it's not firmly
pressed against the chin tighten it
until it fits properly with the chin
strap buckled the helmet should feel
comfortable and snug chin straps are
available in multiple sizes to best fit
the players chin to take off the helmet
the lower chin strap attachments must
first be unbuckled next the players
should place an index finger into the
left and right ear holes of the helmet
the player should then press his thumbs
into the bottom of the jaw pads this
grip will give the player the necessary
leverage to lift the helmet straight up
and off his head
Nick's streaks and grooves on a helmets
exterior may occur with football contact
some wear and tear is common never allow
a player to participate if the players
helmet looks to be cracked or
compromised in any way
remember no helmet can prevent serious
head or neck injuries a player might
receive while participating in football
so practice sim plays sensibly and as
always teach and utilize proper form and
head positioning when participating in
football contact for detail helmet
fitting instruction refer to your
manufacturers instruction guide this
concludes our helmet fitting tutorial
good luck this season visit USA Football
calm for the best resources in coaching
and player development
you
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