Football Accessories: Football Boots, Helmet Display Case and Decals

The origin of football in America can be traced back to rugby, and has resulted from several major divergences of rugby. The rules of the game were instituted by Walter Camp, also known as the "Father of American Football" who at Yale Camp helped evolve the rules of the game away from Rugby and Soccer rules into the rules of American Football. In 1920 the American Professional Football Association was formed, which later changed its name to the National Football League (NFL) two years later, and went on to become the major league of American football.

As the game played is very rough, bordering on violence with the players falling and constantly crashing into each other, a large number of accessories are used by a player in this game. Let us look at some of the football accessories in detail…

Football Helmets: were first created by Paul Brown and are primarily used as a protective device. It is made of hard plastic and has thick padding on the inside, a face mask made of metal bars and a chinstrap to firmly secure the helmet. It is mandatory to wear helmets while playing. A new and comparatively recent addition to the football helmet is the visor or the eye shield to protect the eyes of the players from glare and injuries. When visors were introduced, they were either clear or smoked, however recently the manufactures have become more colorful and the visors are available in a range of colors, some of the more popular ones being blue, gold, rainbow, silver and amber. However, it is advisable to wear clear visors because in case the player suffers a head injury, then the coaches and trainers can look at the eyes of the player to determine if they are conscious.

If helmets were created for safety, football helmet decals and stickers are being used to increase its ‘beauty’. The stickers can be used to indicate the team logo, national flag, league logo, a way to put across the player’s point or simply to make the helmet look more appealing. You can also wear helmet decals to show your support to a team.

Decals can be found in most athletic stores and are also cheap and long lasting. Many decals are removable and reusable. As they are made of durable plastic, they do not fade out over a period of time. Decals are available with paper backing and can be used by simply peeling it off and sticking it to the helmet by moistening the back of the decal. These types of decals can be removed after a match and can be reused. Decals with permanent glue are also available. However, these cannot be removed after a match and usually fade with time. Additionally, football decals can be self-designed. This is a good option for small teams and high school teams. As a matter of fact, some teams use this method to raise money for the team by printing a large number of decals at discounted prices and selling them at games and meets to parents and fans.

With the game gaining unprecedented popularity across the world, football helmet display cases have become an accessory that any fan must possess. These cases are used to keep and display helmets of a fan’s favorite player. These cases come in all shapes and sizes and are available from $50 onwards. The case may be either made of glass or acrylic and are wall mounted or table top.

Football Boots: are specialized footwear used by players while playing football. They come in various shapes and sizes and are made using a variety of leather with the Kangaroo leather being the most preferred. Football boots also have studs protruding from the soles. These boots are also known as ‘cleats’. Recently, shoes with specially designed boots known as blades having molded soles facing in multiple directions to maximize grip and minimize ankle injury have been gaining a lot of popularity. However, these boots are also getting a lot of criticism as they can cause serious injury to other players and hence have been banned by some clubs like the Manchester United. Some of the big companies that have made an impact on the market with record sales are Nike, Adidas and Umbro.

From the humble beginning of the game is 1869, when the first inter college game was played between Rutgers and Princeton, football has become a multi-billion dollar business in its professional form. The accessories are available in various qualities depending on the cost. Pick the one that is made for you and enjoy the game.