Sports safety equipment and gear may sometimes look odd or unfashionable, but using the right protective safety gear for your sport is essential for preventing serious injuries or reducing the severity of an injury you may receive. After all, the point of a sport is to enjoy participating, and getting injured can keep you off the playing field for weeks or more.
Here are some of the most critical pieces of safety gear for athletes of all sports.
Protective Eyewear
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, more than 90% of all sports-related eye injuries can be prevented by using appropriate protective eyewear. This advice applies to athletes or anyone who participates in sports.
There are a variety of clear and tinted sunglasses and goggles for nearly every sport, so shop around for the ones that fit your style and your face and keep your eyes protected.
Helmets
If you play football or hockey, wearing a helmet is clearly a "no-brainer," but many athletes who participate in sports with a high risk of head injury still see the helmet as optional. However, with the growing awareness of the dangers concussions can cause later in life, the necessity of proper head protection has become apparent.
If you ski, snowboard, skateboard, inline skate, or cycle, you need to consider a helmet as standard equipment, even if you're just doing something as casual as riding a beach cruiser bike. A properly fitted helmet, designed for the specific sport you play, significantly decreases your risk of suffering a severe head injury and even death.
Mouth Guards
If you've ever been smacked in the jaw by a stray ball or flying elbow while playing sports, you probably know how essential a mouth guard is to keep your teeth where they should be—in your mouth. But mouthguards also help prevent tongue and lip injuriesand help reduce the risk of suffering a concussion or fractured jaw.
Mouthguards should be considered mandatory safety equipment during sports that risks injury to the face, jaw, or mouth. The most effective mouth guards fit well and are comfortable, but they also stay in place, are durable, easy to clean, and don't restrict speaking and breathing.
Safety Pads and Guards
Safety pads and guards are standard sports safety equipment in dozens of activities. If you play certain contact sports, such as football, hockey, or lacrosse, protective pads are required, but you should wear pads for any contact sport. The type and style of pads seem endless and include shin, knee, elbow, wrist, chest, neck, shoulder, hip, and thigh pads.
Some sports, such as inline skating and skateboarding, include the wrist, knee, and elbow guards as standard equipment. These rigid plastic guards prevent cuts, scrapes, and abrasions and reduce the odds of a significant sprain, strain, or even a fracture after a hard fall. Lights on a bicycle are essential for seeing and being seen while riding in dim conditions, and safer bikes incorporate LED lights.
Knee pads and wrist guards can be a great advantage even in snowboarding. A wipeout on a snowboard usually involves you naturally reaching out with your arms to break your fall, and in the process, it's very easy to break a wrist.
Proper Footwear and Athletic Shoes
The type of shoe you wear during certain sports can easily be added to the safety equipment list.
Sports cleats are essential during field sports, such as football, baseball, and soccer. The right running shoes can decrease your risk of overuse injuries. Special cycling shoes can reduce foot pain and increase your pedaling efficiency. Court shoes with support and good traction are designed for basketball, tennis, and racquetball.
A Word From Verywell
Sports safety equipment is vital for protecting athletes from injuries ranging from mild to severe. Many parts of the body are susceptible to sprains, strains, breaks, and damage that can interfere with your activity or result in permanent issues.
When preparing to participate in any sport, determine what safety equipment may be needed to protect the athlete as much as possible. Be sure the equipment is properly sized and in good condition. Sports are an incredible way to improve your quality of life, but injuries can sideline you. Protect yourself for the best experience and least risk.
4 Sources
Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Opthalmology. Eye Injury Prevention.
Bailly N, Laporte JD, Afquir S, et al. Effect of Helmet Use on Traumatic Brain Injuries and Other Head Injuries in Alpine Sport. Wilderness Environ Med. 2018;29(2):151-158. doi:10.1016/j.wem.2017.11.007
Mantri SS, Mantri SP, Deogade S, Bhasin AS. Intra-oral Mouth-Guard In Sport Related Oro-Facial Injuries: Prevention is Better Than Cure!J Clin Diagn Res. 2014;8(1):299-302. doi:10.7860/JCDR/2014/6470.3872
Relph N, Greaves H, Armstrong R, et al. Running shoes for preventing lower limb running injuries in adults.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019;2019(7):CD013368. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013368
By Elizabeth Quinn, MS
Elizabeth Quinn is an exercise physiologist, sports medicine writer, and fitness consultant for corporate wellness and rehabilitation clinics.
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I'm an avid enthusiast and expert in sports safety, having extensively researched and practiced the principles of injury prevention in various athletic activities. My knowledge is deeply rooted in scientific studies, firsthand experience, and continuous engagement with the latest developments in sports safety equipment. Now, let's delve into the key concepts covered in the article on sports safety equipment:
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Protective Eyewear:
- According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, over 90% of sports-related eye injuries can be prevented with appropriate protective eyewear.
- Various clear and tinted sunglasses and goggles are available for different sports, ensuring both style and protection for the eyes.
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Helmets:
- Helmets are emphasized not only in high-contact sports like football and hockey but also in activities with a risk of head injury, such as skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, inline skating, and cycling.
- Properly fitted helmets, designed for specific sports, significantly reduce the risk of severe head injuries, including concussions.
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Mouth Guards:
- Mouth guards are essential for protecting teeth, preventing tongue and lip injuries, and reducing the risk of concussions or fractured jaws.
- Effective mouth guards should be well-fitted, comfortable, durable, easy to clean, and not restrictive in speaking or breathing.
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Safety Pads and Guards:
- Standard equipment in many sports, including football, hockey, and lacrosse, safety pads include shin, knee, elbow, wrist, chest, neck, shoulder, hip, and thigh pads.
- For sports like inline skating and skateboarding, wrist, knee, and elbow guards are crucial in preventing cuts, scrapes, and reducing the risk of sprains or fractures.
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Proper Footwear and Athletic Shoes:
- The type of footwear is considered part of the safety equipment, with sports cleats for field sports, running shoes for reducing overuse injuries, specialized cycling shoes, and court shoes for sports like basketball, tennis, and racquetball.
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Overall Importance of Sports Safety Equipment:
- The article emphasizes that sports safety equipment is vital for protecting athletes from a range of injuries, from mild to severe, which can interfere with sports participation or result in long-term issues.
- The advice is to determine the necessary safety equipment for each sport, ensuring proper sizing and good condition to maximize protection.
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Closing Thoughts:
- The concluding message stresses the significance of protecting oneself with the right safety gear to enjoy sports while minimizing the risk of injuries that could sideline athletes.
- The information provided in the article is backed by high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, ensuring accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness in the presented content.
