Why do American football players wear tights and so much padding?

Question

Rugby players, for example, don't wear any of that stuff.

John Q, oh yes they do. All the time.

And that is even though there is a lot more hitting and collision in Rugby by massive guys, making it far more dangerous. But I'm especially curious about the tights part.

Answer 1

I guess the pads are cause there smart?!? Who wants to brag about getting a tooth knocked out...or worse...i rather be out there playing. then being able to walk away from the game.
And the smacking of the *** is called a "Good Game". guess your coach never gave you one...huh? Probably didnt deserve one.

Answer 2

If you have ever been hit by someone wearing a very hard plastic helmet and shoulder pads running full steam into your body as you attempt to catch the ball or running through a line of very big people trying to hit you so hard that you don't get up, you would know why they where so much padding. "Protection" is the key word here and for the tights part that is for ease of movement and the pads that are on your hips, thighs, butt, and knees have pockets built into the pants as well. You can't move well if you are wearing jeans, and loose clothing would do nothing for you which is a reason why the clothes that football players wear are skin tight.

Answer 3

Rugby doesn't have 6'4 335 lbs guys.

Rugby can have some big fellas, but never really THAT big. Also, i've never seen a rugby player faster than 4.7.. my own personal account. When you get a guy 215, running a 4.4 40 comming at fullspeed while you're at full sleep, it's stupid not to have the pads.

And there is no tights, unless you're talking about the tight shirts they wear, that's under armour, helps keep the player dry and cool/warm. The pants are tight to keep the pads right up to you, plus it's kinda hard to run in baggy pants.

I got nothing against rugby players at all, you play your sport i'll play mine and think nothing off it. I just really don't want my head up another guy's butt. And i see that often in rugby.

Like i said, the answer is because there's bigger guys and some move faster and are still huge.

Answer 4

The players wear tighter uniforms so the opposing team has nothing to grab onto when trying to tackle them. Usually they'll wear a jersey a couple of sizes to small so theirs no loose fabric to grab. They wear padding because the collisions are much more violent than rugby. Say all you want about rugby being rough. It's a rough sport but they are usually running in the same direction when they tackle. In American football the players are usually running full speed straight at each other. The collisions are much more violent. If you have a problem with it, get your fat butt on the field and see for yourself.

Answer 5

The tight fit is to reduce the ability of opposing players to grab onto them. The padding is kind of bulky but a necessary component.

I can't say that I have watched a lot of rugby, nor do I wish to step on toes, but it seems that Rugby players hold up a bit when tackling compared to American football. It just appears that way, I could be wrong.

Answer 6

I don't know anything about rugby so excuse me if I'm wrong but I don't think rugby players tackle each other the way that American football players do. So without pads there would be a lot of injuries.

Answer 7

Well coming from a guy who played both, i can tell you that even with pads i had way more injuries from football than i ever did from rugby. im about 5'10" 240lbs. and i was getting hit by guys 6'7" 340 when i was in high school, and let me tell you after one hit you dont want to run that way ever again. but when i played rugby, i was the biggest guy out there so it never hurt to get hit, it probably hurt the guy hitting me.
and about the "tights" its for a couple of reasons. first: there is less wind resistence so you can run faster. and also so people cant grab your legs and bring you down by the pants. which can be really embarassing

Answer 8

They wear tights because its easy to run in. They wear a lot of padding because they get knocked around and hit and fall a lot.

Answer 9

They were tight jerseys and pants so other players can't hang onto their jersey's and pull them down. They have to tackle them fairly. They were so much pad's because there is alot more hitting and helmet to helmet stuff in football, Rugby, there is not.

Answer 10

Dude, those are spandex pants, not tights.