As well as the ball itself, items of essential safety equipment such as a safety helmet, knee and shoulder pads, gloves, a mouth-guard, and an athletic supporter (jockstrap), are all essential items of American football equipment.

Safety Helmet

This piece of American football equipment has an outer shell made of hard, durable plastic, which is thickly padded on the inside to form a barrier of protection. It is secured with a strap under the chin, and has a face-mask consisting of shock absorbing, small metal bars to protect the face. Footballers do suffer from head injuries caused by impact during play, however these would be more severe without the use of helmets.