american football question from uk?

Question

why do amercan football players wear so much padding,surely it affects their speed and agility

Answer 1

First of all never mind brigante as he clearly has no class in answering a worthwhile question. Yes the padding does affect your speed and agility somewhat but for good reason. If not for the padding in this collision sport which it truly is between extremely large players, there would be people getting hurt even more severely or even killed. Imagine a 260 lb linebacker with 4.5 40 yard dash speed hitting a running back head on in the open field without a helmut or padding. Someone or both would not be getting up from the collision. In the older days of American football, they didn't wear hardly any padding but as players got bigger and faster they required more padding.

Answer 2

It's all about the physics involved in American Football. In the early days of American Football, many players died on the football field. Unlike Rugby or Australian Football, American Football players basically try and destroy each other out on the field. Originally, players that wore padding wore leather pads and after a time, leather helmets with no face mask. But technology advanced and now most padding is a type of foam and plastic, relatively lightweight, so it really doesn't slow them down due to weight (but drag is a different story). I would guess that they lose a small amount, but not a signifigant amount of speed because of their equipment. The fact is, that when you consider the size, strength and speed of American Football players, and their attitudes about hitting one another, then padding is a necessity, as it prevents many serious injuries and even deaths. In fact, college football was plagued by so many on-field fatalities in the early 20th century, that President Theodore Roosevelt stepped in to help regulate the game so as to prevent serious injuries, this would indirectly lead to requirements forcing players to wear protective equipment. Yet even with all this protection, football in America is still somewhat dangerous, every year, players in all levels of football are seriously injured and some even killed while playing football. I hope that helped you understand, just compare the size and strength of David Beckham to an NFL offensive lineman (usually around 6 feet, 4 inches and over 300 pounds) and you might understand it better.

Answer 3

It is a strange fact that a lot of American sports are somewhat parochial and not popular in the World generally .American Football is probably the most notable .Very much a minority sport in the UK and elsewhere away behind Rugby Union and Rugby League . Baseball also falls into this category with a patchy interest in countries like Japan . Shame really as if the US embrased sports like rugby , football ( known as soccer in America ) or cricket it would have a great impact internationally .

Answer 4

They were the padding due to all the injuries. They did not always wear the pads.

Here is my question to you if you had a 250 pound guy running full blast at you wouldn't you want pads?

This isn't soccer were you get a card if you play to rough. And the American football players are 2 maybe even 3 times, bigger faster and stronger than any of those little men y'all have on the soccer field and probably even the rugby field.

Answer 5

Because its tackle football. They are throwing themselves into the game, so you have to be protected. Imagine how many more injuries there would be if they didn't have padding. The padding does affect their speed and agility, but if everybody is wearing it, then it would affect everybody, so its still fair. They get used to it.

Answer 6

Although many have said the American Football is a "contact" sport, the reality is, it's a "collision" sport. It's obvious that the American Football player is much bigger and stronger than any soccer of rugby player. Safety is the big issue and that's why all the equipment is used.

Answer 7

Have you actually watched a game? You would receive your answer and you would also realize that the padding doesn't compromise spped and agility. Watch Randy Moss catching a pass from Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning/ Marvin Harrison connection.

Answer 8

if you have watched an nfl game and still have to ask this question the you are an idiot. Why do you think 10-20 players get an injury every week? With the pads on!!! watch your rugby and shut up.

Answer 9

im sure american footballers are strong but i wouldnt think they have any speed, how can people enjoy watching that takes forever to play. Rugby and rugby league are far better to watch and a hell of alot cheaper to play and you dont need as much people to play.

Answer 10

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt...even though I probably shouldn't.
Safety..as powerful as NFL players are, they'd be injuring not only opponents, but teammates, every game without it. It's not rugby...NFL athletes are the most highly tuned in the world