Football knee & elbow pads

What knee and elbow pads are for

Knees and elbows regularly hit the ground, the turf or an opponent's equipment. Padded protection cushions impacts and helps prevent the burns and grazes that come with artificial pitches. These are impact pads, not braces: if you have a ligament problem, seek advice from a medical professional.

Knee pad formats

Slot-in pads

Most American football trousers have pockets at the knee. You slide in flat or slightly curved pads. Make sure their shape and size match the pockets in your trousers.

Padded sleeves

An elastic sleeve with foam over the kneecap. It stays in place even if your trousers ride up, and works well for training without match trousers or for flag football.

Elbow pad formats

• Padded sleeve: foam over the point of the elbow without restricting bending.
• Hard-shell elbow pad: more protective, favoured by linemen who take repeated contact on the arms.
• Long sleeve: covers the forearm too and reduces turf burn.

Which positions need them?

Linemen start each play in a stance near the ground and fight with extended arms, so elbow protection is common among them. Linebackers and running backs also frequently use knee pads and padded sleeves. Faster positions tend to prefer thin protection that does not affect their running. Flag football players, who play without full pads, often choose light sleeves for training on artificial grass.

Getting the size right

For a sleeve, measure around the leg or arm where the manufacturer's chart tells you to, usually just above or below the joint. The pad should stay in place without slipping or cutting off circulation. For slot-in pads, go by the size of your trousers.

Care

Wash textile sleeves according to the label, preferably at a low temperature, and let them air-dry. Wipe hard shells with soapy water. Replace any pad whose foam has flattened or whose stitching has come loose.