If you own a sporting goods store, run a sports camp for kids or have any other football-related business, then you should have a good knowledge of equipment for football and its proper use. Basic football gear includes football protective gear, such as shoulder pads, as well as game equipment, such as balls. But other, more specialized football training equipment is also popular. Before you begin your football equipment education and training, keep in mind that different levels of the game use slightly different equipment. Youth football equipment varies a bit from professional American football equipment. With that said, you should find football equipment information that teaches you how to use:

1. Basic football pads, gear and equipment;

2. Football coaching equipment;

3. And equipment for football officials and referees.

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Learn to use basic football gear

In the game's simplist form, you only need to know how to use some basic football gear, such as a ball, a kicking tee and pads. But as players advance, the gear also gets more advanced. Often the gear is position specific, such as special shoes for kickers and gloves for receivers.

I recommend: There is excellent advice on eHow regarding how to choose the proper football gear and how to suit up before a game or practice. Tips include how to select the right helmet and face mask for your position and what kinds of cleats to get. For detailed instruction on how to use football equipment, check out videos that are available from websites such as Active Videos. They cover the specifics of playing each position of the game, from linebacker to receiver to quarterback to kicker.

Discover how to use football training equipment and equipment for football coaches

In football, a coach's equipment is just as important as a player's gear. Coaching gear includes football training equipment for practices, video systems to review game films and organizational and communications systems for game day. In fact, coaches often have more equipment than their players.

I recommend: The article archive from American Football Monthly has great advice on how to use all sorts of coaching equipment. It also includes reviews of equipment such as video systems and headsets. And, you can learn to use coaching equipment by attending coaching clinics. USA Football partners with the National Football League to run one-day clinics.

Find out how to use equipment for football officials and referees

In football, the officiating crew is in the middle of the action and needs to be ready to call a penalty or get out of the way of a player at any time. Having the right equipment and using it properly makes the job easier.

I recommend: Human Kinetics runs the American Sport Education Program, which offers courses that teach football officials the proper use of equipment. Community colleges, such as John Wood Community College in Illinois, often offer classes that teach the basics of officiating and how to use officiating equipment.

The proper football equipment will help your team to discover and improve their natural football talents and abilities. It is important to keep safety a priority when ordering football equipment for your team.

It is important to remember that your players are all different. Because of this, you should keep a full line of football gear in a variety of sizes available for your team. Remember these suggestions when you order your gear:

1. Make safety a priority by supplying your team with top quality protective football equipment.

2. Maximize the potential of every player by offering appropriate position specific equipment.

3. Increase the effectiveness of practice by using the right training equipment.

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Keep players safe with the appropriate football protective gear

Keeping players safe during football games and practices is a top concern of anyone involved with the team. Providing your team with the proper safety equipment, such as football shoulder pads and collar schutts, is necessary to ensure that players don't get seriously hurt. Make sure that you offer football protective gear in a variety of sizes to ensure that you have all of the necessary gear to fit every player.

I recommend: Sports Authority and SportsDepot.com both a varied selection of football equipment for sale, including football pads, helmets and athletic tape. Both of these companies offer discounted prices.

Outfit your team with specialized football gear

Many football players use specialized football gear to enhance performance. For example, cleats can help football players to run faster by providing extra traction. Receiver gloves make it easier to catch a slippery ball. Providing your team with these additional accessories allows you to maximize each player's potential.

I recommend: Final-Score has a varied selection of football gear, including football equipment bags. This company offers discounted prices on all items. Dick's Sporting Goods has a good selection of specialty football gear, including receiver gloves and cleats. This company offers detailed information to help you pick the right equipment for your team.

Provide appropriate football practice equipment

A team that has the proper equipment for football practice will be able to enhance their abilities by doing certain drills. When you order practice equipment for your team, make sure that you provide players in every position with the tools to become the best players possible.

I recommend: OnlineSports.com and Sport Equipment both have a varied selection of football training equipment. You can find agility drill equipment, practice nets and blocking dummies at either of these companies. Both companies offer free shipping on qualified orders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Consider donating any football equipment that has been replaced but that is still in good shape to a local community youth league.

There are many different pieces of equipment used in youth and adult football games. The most important equipment is the safety equipment each play must wear. Safety equipment includes all types of padding and helmets. The other types of personal football equipment help with traction and play, such as cleats and gloves for receivers. Football equipment also includes a host of items used to teach players how to block, tackle and run through specific plays.

Action Steps
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Shoulder pads

Football shoulder pads are designed to protect the player from injuries to the chest, back and collar bone. Shoulder pads are customized for different player positions based on the player's job on the field.

I recommend: Dick's Sporting Goods offers a buyers guide for football shoulder, knee and other pads used in football for youth and adult leagues.

Helmet

The football helmet is a vital piece of equipment for every player. The helmet protects the head from injuries during play. Additional equipment such as collar pads, neck rolls and mouth guards can help fully protect a player's head and neck area.

I recommend: The National Football Foundation offers detailed information on how a football helmet should fit to maximize safety.

Athletic tape

Athletic tape is a tool used in football to help support sore or injured body parts. When athletic tape is used, it provides additional support to the knee, ankle or other body part in question.

I recommend: NISMAT provides instructions and pictures detailing how an athlete can protect a continuously sprained ankle by using athletic tape.

Cleats

Cleats are a specialized type of shoe football players wear on the field. Cleats assist with getting a better foothold on the grass, especially in slippery conditions.

I recommend: How Stuff Works describes the different types of cleats available and how cleats work on grass and AstroTurf.

Receiver gloves, football gloves

Receiver gloves are worn by football receivers to make it easier for them to catch the football during play. Receiver gloves have traction lines on the palms to keep a solid grip on the football.

I recommend: American Chronicle offers a guide on how to choose the right football gloves for your specific needs.

Blocking dummy, blocking sled

The blocking dummy is a piece of equipment generally used in football practice. The blocking dummy is a bag or dummy attached to a metal frame. When football players come toward the dummy and hit it, the sled moves with them. Stationery blocking dummies can also be used.

I recommend: Learn That outlines how to teach and practice a football driving block using a blocking dummy.