Getting Your Football Player Ready for the Season | BSG
Posted by Burghardt Sporting Goods on Aug 21st 2026
Getting Your Football Player Suited Up for the Season
Football season is starting here in Wisconsin, and a helmet only protects your kid if it fits.
Every August the pads come down from the garage and you end up holding last year's helmet, wondering if it still fits a kid who grew all summer. Fit is what matters most here. A helmet that sits right does its job on the field. We help New Berlin families work through this every fall, and it usually takes one trip to the store.
Start at the top and work down
Fitting goes in an order that makes sense. Start with the helmet, since it is the piece that matters most and the one everything else works around. From there you move down to the shoulder pads and the rest of the padding, and the cleats come last.
The helmet
It should sit level, about an inch above the eyebrows, and it should not twist when your kid shakes their head. Look for the NOCSAE certification mark. If it is a hand-me-down, check how old it is and when it was last reconditioned. This is the one piece you never buy big for growing room.
The shoulder pads
Pads should cover the shoulders and the top of the chest without jamming into the neck. Get the size wrong and they will not sit where they should, which your kid will feel by the second practice. A quick fitting sorts it out.
The lower body
Hip, tailbone, thigh, and knee pads usually live in a girdle or drop into pockets in the football pants. Check that each pad sits where it belongs and stays put when your kid makes a hard cut.
Cleats and the mouthguard
Molded football cleats give your kid grip on turf or grass. Add a mouthguard that covers the upper teeth. These two cost little and are easy to replace as your kid grows, so keep a spare mouthguard in the bag.
The mistake we see most
The big one is buying a helmet or pads a couple sizes too large so they last a few seasons. Oversized gear will not protect a kid the way it should, and a loose helmet is a real safety problem. Fit for the kid you have this year. You can always trade up when they grow.
What your league gives you, and what you buy
Before you spend a dollar, find out what your program provides. Plenty of youth tackle leagues issue the helmet and shoulder pads and leave the rest to families. Sorting that out first keeps you from buying something twice.
Do
- Ask the program what it issues before you shop.
- Get fitted in person, especially for the helmet and pads.
- Check the NOCSAE mark and reconditioning date on any used helmet.
- Keep a mouthguard and spare in the bag.
Skip
- Sizing way up for growing room.
- Trusting a cracked or unmarked hand-me-down helmet.
- Guessing at shoulder pad size from a chart alone.
- Leaving the cleats for the night before.
A helmet only protects your kid if it fits. What you paid for it barely comes into it.
How we handle it at the store
You can buy football gear online, sure. For a kid who is still growing, a fitting in person is worth the trip. Come in and we will get the helmet and shoulder pads sized right. We will sort out what your league already hands out, and grab the cleats and mouthguard while you are here. We have been getting New Berlin kids ready for their seasons since 1881, and this is one of the parts we like best. If you want to see current helmet and shoulder pad models first, our 2026 football helmets and shoulder pads guide is a good place to start.
Coaching a team? We do that side too. Along with the protective gear, our Team Sales Department can order custom jerseys and practice apparel for your whole roster. Call the store and we will walk through a team order.
Bring this to a fitting
- Your league's equipment list, so you know what to buy.
- Your player, for a real helmet and shoulder pad fit.
- Any hand-me-down gear you want us to check.
- Current cleat size, and a little room to grow into the shoe only.
Get your player season-ready
Come in for a football fitting at our New Berlin store.
15333 W National Avenue, New Berlin, WI 53151
Phone: (262) 790-1170
When you love Friday nights like we do, you can't beat Burghardt!