On the line of scrimmage, every snap starts with contact. Linemen wear the same mandatory list as everyone else, but in versions built for that contact. This guide takes the kit apart piece by piece, from lineman gloves to cleats, using the IFAF rulebook and the manufacturers' own product pages.
Contents · 8 parts
The 2-minute summary
- One mandatory list for all: helmet, hip pads, jersey, knee pads, mouthpiece, pants, shoulder pads, socks and thigh guards, whatever the position.
- Gloves: a tacky palm with padding across the back of the hand and the fingers; the rules require a separate section for each finger and an SFIA or NOCSAE compliance label.
- Cleats: line models run higher on the ankle and add a strap; no stud may extend more than half an inch from the base of the shoe.
- Shoulder pads: the "trench" cut widens the chest and locks the shoulder cap, yet the rulebook sets no specifications for shoulder pads at all.
- Under the pants: hips, tailbone, thighs and knees are mandatory, and no pad may be worn outside the pants.
What the rulebook asks of every player
IFAF rule 1-4-3 sets the same list for everyone: helmet, hip pads, jersey, knee pads, mouthpiece, pants, shoulder pads, socks and thigh guards. Football helmets must carry a warning label plus a manufacturer's or reconditioner's certification showing that they meet the NOCSAE test standards. Hip pads must include a tailbone protector. Mouthguards must be intra-oral, of a readily visible colour, neither white nor transparent, and must cover all upper teeth.
Two points matter more than the rest on the line. Knee pads must be covered by the pants, and nothing protective may be worn outside them: hip, thigh and knee protection all goes underneath the football apparel you wear on top. And any hard, abrasive or unyielding equipment that is not completely covered and padded is illegal, subject to the umpire's approval. Our article on mandatory football equipment runs through the full list.
Gloves: padding the back of the hand without losing the grip
The rules start by defining the glove itself: a fitted covering for a hand with separate sections for each finger and the thumb, with no additional material connecting any of the fingers or the thumb. It should carry a label or stamp showing voluntary compliance with SFIA or NOCSAE test specifications, unless it is made of unaltered plain cloth. Colour is unrestricted.
Within that frame, line models keep a tacky palm and add padding across the back of the hand, plus a firmer wrist closure. Three published listings show the variations:
| Model | Palm | Back of hand and wrist | Sizes | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battle Menace | GripTack | ArmorFlex padding over the knuckles, PowerMesh back, adjustable BattleFit strap | S to 3XL | €79.90 |
| Cutters Force 6.0 | padded C-TACK patch | padded back with flex points, double wrist strap | M to 3XL | €79.90 |
| barnett FLG-03 | cabretta and pittards leather | padded spandex and nylon back | S to 2XL | €35.00 |
Battle states that the Menace meets SFIA standards for game play. Cutters publishes no NFHS or NCAA compliance claim for the Force 6.0, so if your federation checks for the label, look for it on the glove before you buy. For measuring your hand and picking a size, see our guide on how to choose football gloves and the full range of football gloves.
Line cleats: cut, strap and stud length
Models that brands present as lineman shoes are recognisable by their shaft height and by the extra hold around the ankle. The Nike Force Savage Pro 2 combines a synthetic leather upper with moulded overlays, a hook-and-loop ankle strap and webbing tied into the lacing, over a foam midsole; it runs from EU 44 to 48.5 at around €165.90. The adidas Adizero Chaos II takes the other route, with a padded collar, quick lacing and a REPETITOR midsole; adidas presents it as its lightest lineman model, at around €159.95.
The rulebook gives a single number here: a cleat that extends more than half an inch, or 12.7 mm, from the base of the shoe is illegal equipment. The rest is a question of outsole, covered in our guide on how to choose football cleats and in the football cleats collection.
Line-cut shoulder pads
The rulebook is blunt on this one: there are no specifications for shoulder pads. The manufacturer's cut decides everything, and brands build a dedicated line for the trenches. The VICIS ARC_V1 Varsity Trench is one example: arches and shoulder caps in CURV thermoplastic composite, a locking shoulder cap that protects the acromioclavicular joint on impact, dual-density foam and an included back plate, in sizes L to 3XL.
Mind the jersey: its sleeves must completely cover the shoulder pads, and it must cover every pad worn at or above the waist, back plate included. The differences in cut between positions are set out in our guide to shoulder pads by position, and the models sit in the football shoulder pads collection.
Under the pants: hips, thighs and knees
Hip pads with a tailbone protector, thigh guards and knee pads are all mandatory, yet the rulebook sets no specifications for thigh guards. Two set-ups exist: pants with integrated pockets, or a girdle worn underneath. The models are in the girdles collection, and the sizing method in our guide on how to choose a football girdle.
For a selection by position, see the offensive line and defensive line pages.
FAQ
Does a lineman need different gloves from other positions?
The rulebook makes no distinction by position: the same definition of a glove applies to everyone. The difference comes from the models, which add padding over the back of the hand and the fingers while keeping a tacky palm.
How long may football cleats be?
A cleat must not extend more than half an inch, or 12.7 mm, from the base of the shoe. Anything longer is illegal equipment.
Are lineman shoulder pads certified?
No. The rulebook states that there are no specifications for shoulder pads. Of the items covered here, only the helmet must carry a certification showing it meets the NOCSAE test standards.
Can a back plate be worn over the jersey?
No. The jersey must cover every pad worn at or above the waist, and its sleeves must completely cover the shoulder pads.
Sources
- IFAF, Football Rules and Interpretations, 2026 edition, rule 1-4: https://amerikanskeidretter.no/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/IFAF-Rules-and-Interpretations-2026.2.4.pdf
- Battle Sports, Menace Football Lineman Gloves: https://www.battlesports.com/products/menace-football-lineman-gloves
- Cutters Sports, Force 6.0 Lineman Gloves: https://cutterssports.com/products/force-6-lineman-gloves-black
- barnett, FLG-03: https://www.barnett.fr/products/flg-03-gants-de-football-am-ricain-de-linemen-pro-ol-dl-noir-2-aspx
- Nike, Force Savage Pro 2: https://www.nike.com/t/force-savage-pro-2-mens-football-cleat-PHgwNl/AH4000-002
- adidas, Adizero Chaos II Football Lineman Cleats (archived copy): http://web.archive.org/web/20260418001458/https://www.adidas.com/us/adizero-chaos-ii-smu-football-lineman-cleats/JQ1408.html
- VICIS, ARC_V1 Varsity Shoulder Pads – Trench: https://vicis.com/products/arc_v1-varsity-shoulder-pads-trench