1996 football buyer's guide & directory.

With football players growing, bigger, stronger, faster and hitting harder year after year, our equipment and uniform manufacturers have been working overtime in designing the ultimate in protection, style, and durability.

Certainly, injuries are part of the game, but they can be reduced by intelligent and caring athletic directors and coaches who will do their homework in the investigation, planning, and purchase of their equipment.

That means reading trade journals, attending coaches' conventions and clinics, and giving manufacturers the opportunity to display their wares.

Says Joe Medina of St. Augustine H.S. (San Diego, CA):

"When it comes to protective equipment, we never skimp. Our booster club is very supportive and is always willing to help us ensure the safety of the players. Any time we have a problem with a helmet or pad, we will immediately replace it."

HELMETS

Two of the hot new helmets are the Air Varsity and Air Junior models manufactured by Schutt Sports Group (Litchfield, IL).

The Varsity offers a GE Lexan polycarbonate alloy shell and a foam-molded liner padding system. Designed for the high school and collegiate levels, it is available in 15 molded colors and nine painted colors.

The Air Junior helmet, recommended for youth players (through age 14), offers a dual density foam liner system, with front, side, and back pads, a nose bumper, universal snap-in jaw pads, a foam-padded top pad and polypropylene shell.

Schutt's hard-cup chin strap secures these helmets and is available in two styles: a four-point hook-up and a short n' long. The straps are offered in 13 team colors.

Riddell (Chicago, IL), one of the industry heavyweights, feature "aero-cells" in the VSP-2 and VSR-4, the ultimate in protection and comfort. The VSR-2 has a push-in valve and inflation point in the backside of the neck, while the VSR-4 has two inflation points on the crown and neck.

Other Riddell helmets include the S.C.I., featuring a self-contained deflation system, and the AF-2, which has fittings to the 1/8[inches].

FACE GUARDS

Schutt is up front and center with ArmourGuard. It is coated with vinyl and thermoset plastic, has superior qualities for high and low temperatures impacts, and resists chipping.

When Dallas Cowboy QB Troy Aikman was injured by a vicious butt to the chin, team equipment manager Mike McCord asked Schutt to manufacture a custom guard. The company engineers tailored several new guards for Troy, who began experimenting with them one day later.

Another top seller for Schutt is an eye shield that helps reduce facial injuries. Available in clear or smoke-tinted, the shield helps cut glare (especially from floodlights) and enhances peripheral vision (cuts distortion). It is quick and easy to attach and its optical plastic composition features a special treatment that repels dust, fog, and steam.

SHOULDER PADS 

Whenever a player straps on his pads, he doesn't think of the changing technology that went into the development of them. Shoulder pads have come a long way in a short time.

Since these pads "shoulder" most of the blows dished out by defenders, a durable, yet lightweight model is optimum.

"The shoulder takes a lot of abuse, especially on the defensive side of the ball," says Griswold H.S. (Jewett City, CT) athletic director and former Harvard line coach Dick Corbin. "New shoulder pads have to have extra padding, depending on where you play, and have to be cut so that they don't ride up your neck when the arms are extended."

Gear 2000 (Hays, KS) feels its Super Air Release Pads are on the cutting edge. Gear has added a Secur-A-Strap to replace the elastic system and an innovative dual strap with a D-ring mechanism to hold the pad securely to the body. The strap is simple to fasten and adjust at any time, even during game action. In the past, players needed to adjust the elastic and tape, again and again.

The air release system in the pad reduces the impact of hard blows in contact sports. The system consists of open cell and closed cell foam layers which control the air release on impact - reducing the risk of injury.

The exclusive Super Release comes in three models: Scrambler (quarterbacks, receiver, and backs), Dominator (linebackers and ends), and Invader (linemen).

The newest line of Schutt shoulder pads include the Tornado, Lightning, and Hurricane, each of which is vinyl-dipped and a part of the Schutt Impact Protection System (IPS). Lightweight, durable, mobile, they are designed specifically for college and high school play.

"Our shoulders pads are made to fit each of the positions," says Julie Nimmons, president of the Schutt Sports Group. "They will fit shoulder widths from 16[inches] to 22[inches] and chest sizes from 34 to 52 inches."

The cushions are covered in heavy-duty waterproof nylon and can be removed for easy cleaning and maintenance. The pads also include metal reinforced hook-up slots, t-hook connectors, mounts for hook and slide attachments and covered rivets to prevent wear.

A seven vinyl-dipped shoulder pad collar completes the latest in Schutt shoulder protection. Rounded pads are offered in 1 1/2[inches], 2[inches], 3[inches] widths and flat collars are in 1 1/2[inches], 2[inches], and 2 1/2[inches] widths.

The latest addition to the Laser 6000 line of shoulder pads from Bike (Knoxville, TN) is designed accommodate the changing physiques of the modem players. "The Bruiser's" higher end pad has a narrower plastic body arch that produces a more contoured silhouette.

Other "Bruiser" features include extended pectoral padding, epaulets that are rolled forward toward the greater hitting focus, a velcro fastener on the cantilever straps to minimize detachment, and an outer covering that combines nylon/mesh and storm proof nylon taffeta.

The Impact Series shoulder pad by Wilson Sporting Goods (Chicago, IL) features Ensolite backed by polyurethane. The unique sloped body matches the players' body contour. The Impact Protector is designed to cushion blows to the ribs. Worn like a vest, it has adjustable front straps, and a back of high quality plastic.

RECONDITIONING

Most coaches will agree that reconditioning helmets and shoulder pads is the single most important play of the off-season. It ensures the safety of the players and it saves money.

Says Ed Frey of Phillips-Exeter Academy (NH):

"When our equipment manager sends out the helmets and other gear, the pressure is put on the reconditioner. They do a great job with helmets, extending the life of helmets and saving us a tremendous amount of money (in budgets and lawsuits)."

Chris Lawlor, Marketing Manager