What Protective Gear Does a Youth Football Player Need?

Tackle football needs a full set of pads. Here is the plain gear checklist for a youth player.

What protective gear does a youth football player need?

For tackle football, a youth player needs seven pieces of protective gear. The helmet, shoulder pads, and mouthguard protect the head and upper body. The lower body is covered by hip pads, a tailbone pad, thigh pads, and knee pads, most of which snap into a padded girdle or slide into pockets in the football pants. Cleats are the last required item. The full list is below.

• Helmet: must carry the NOCSAE certification mark. Includes a facemask and a fastened chin strap.
• Mouthguard: covers the upper teeth. Required in organized play.
• Shoulder pads: sized to the player's chest and shoulder width.
• Hip and tailbone pads: protect the pelvis and the base of the spine.
• Thigh pads: slide into the front pockets of the pants.
• Knee pads: slide into the lower pockets of the pants.
• Football cleats: molded cleats for grip on turf or grass.

Optional add-ons that many players use include football gloves, a rib or back plate, arm sleeves, and a visor. You can find pads, girdles, mouthguards, and accessories in the Burghardt football protective gear and football accessories sections.

What football gear is required versus recommended?

Required gear is the equipment a player cannot take the field without in organized tackle football. Recommended gear adds comfort or extra protection but is not mandatory. The table sorts the common pieces.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) sets the equipment rules for high school football, and the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) governs Wisconsin high schools. Youth programs such as those guided by USA Football follow similar equipment standards. Confirm the exact requirements with your league, since some add or waive pieces by age level.

What does NOCSAE certification mean for a football helmet?

NOCSAE stands for the National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment. A football helmet that carries the NOCSAE mark passed the NOCSAE impact test standard at the time it was manufactured. Organized tackle football requires a NOCSAE-certified helmet, so the mark is the single most important thing to check when you buy or hand down a helmet. The mark appears on the shell or the rear of the helmet.

How often should a football helmet be replaced or reconditioned?

NOCSAE, the National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA), and the helmet makers recommend reconditioning and recertifying a helmet every year, and at minimum every two years. Most helmets can be recertified until they are about ten years old, after which they are retired. A helmet with cracks, missing padding, or a loose shell should be pulled from use right away. If you are buying a used or hand-me-down helmet, check its age and its last reconditioning date before trusting it.

What gear does flag football need?

Flag football uses no helmet and no pads, because there is no tackling. A flag football player needs a mouthguard, athletic shoes or molded cleats, and a flag belt with flags. Many leagues provide the belt. That lighter kit is one reason flag programs are growing, including girls flag football across Wisconsin high schools.

Where can you buy youth football protective gear near Milwaukee?

You can buy and get fitted for youth football protective gear at Burghardt Sporting Goods, 15333 W National Avenue in New Berlin, about 15 miles west of downtown Milwaukee. The store carries helmets, shoulder pads, girdles, pads, mouthguards, cleats, and accessories, and staff can help match sizes to a growing player. For a look at current helmet and shoulder pad models, see the Burghardt 2026 football helmets and shoulder pads guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does my youth football league provide any of the gear?

Some do. Many youth tackle programs issue the helmet and shoulder pads and ask families to buy the mouthguard, girdle or padded pants, and cleats. Check your program's equipment policy before shopping so you do not buy something the league already provides.

Is a mouthguard required in football?

Yes. Organized tackle football requires a tooth and mouth protector that covers the upper teeth. It protects the teeth and cushions the jaw. Mouthguards are inexpensive and are one of the simplest pieces of gear to replace as a player grows.

Can my child use a hand-me-down helmet?

Only if it still carries a valid NOCSAE certification, fits properly, and has been reconditioned within the recommended window. Helmets are usually retired around ten years of age. Any helmet with cracks, missing padding, or a loose shell should not be used.

What is the difference between tackle and flag football gear?

Tackle football needs a full protective set: a NOCSAE-certified helmet, shoulder pads, a mouthguard, lower-body pads, and cleats. Flag football needs only a mouthguard, athletic shoes or cleats, and a flag belt, because there is no tackling.

How do I know the pads fit?

Shoulder pads should cover the shoulders and top of the chest without pinching the neck, and the helmet should sit level with no gaps and not twist on the head. Fit changes fast as kids grow, so it is worth getting sized in person. Burghardt staff can fit a player at the New Berlin store.

Equipment requirements reflect general standards for organized youth and high school tackle football and can vary by league and age level. Helmet certification is governed by NOCSAE, high school equipment rules by the NFHS and, in Wisconsin, the WIAA. Confirm your program's specific requirements before buying.