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Football Buying Guide

• Find the Right Size Football
• Shield Your Head With a Football Helmet
• Bulk Up With Shoulder Pads
• Pad Your Body for Football
• Select Football Cleats That Fit
• Find Football Equipment on halfvalue
• Buy Football Gear With Confidence

Companies such as Wilson, Franklin, Spalding, and Rawlings produce leather and synthetic leather footballs designed for players of different ages.

Always buy mini footballs for children so they can properly develop their throwing technique. Move on to larger footballs when their hands grow. Also, know that NCAA footballs are slightly smaller and more rounded than official NFL footballs, making them easier to throw and catch.

Youth football helmets and adult football helmets from companies such as Riddell and Wilson come in a variety of sizes to fit different size heads.

To determine your head size, dampen your hair slightly to simulate sweat and measure the circumference of your head one inch above your eyebrows.

When shopping on halfvalue, narrow your search by using the size number as a keyword.

Football helmet air systems

Air system liners built into many football helmets can take more of a beating than foam padding. They also have more adjustment options for added comfort.

Football helmet padding

Foam pads in the back of your helmet support and protect your head. When they get worn down or discolored from sweat, replace them with new pads designed for your football helmet. Make sure they meet National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) standards for thickness.

Helmet chin straps

Chin straps keep the football helmet anchored to your head and protect your chin. If you prefer a different style, you can buy replacement straps. Just make sure the chin strap remains centered on your chin, holding your helmet firmly in place.

Face masks

Football helmets may come with or without a face mask. The position you play helps determine your protection needs. Also consider how a mask will affect your field of vision. The following abbreviations indicate protection levels.

• OPO: Oral Protection Only.
• JOP: Jaw and Oral Protection.
• NOPO: Nose and Oral Protection Only.
• NJOP: Nose, Jaw, and Oral Protection.
• EGOP: Eye Glass and Oral Protection.

You may also see the following abbreviations for face mask styles on halfvalue.

• DW: Double Wire Configuration.
• SW: Single Wire Configuration.
• R: Reinforced.
• UB: U-Bar Attached.
• SK: Skill Position Players.

Select the appropriate shoulder pads for your size and position. To determine your football shoulder pad size, follow these simple steps:

1. Stand up with your arms at your sides.
2. Have someone measure across your back from shoulder blade to shoulder blade.
3. Round up half an inch.

Typical sizes and back measurements include:

To get the proper fit for youth players, take chest size and weight into account. Sellers may list these measurements in their item listings.

Buy football shoulder pads by position

Aside from general sizing, purchase shoulder pads designed for athletes playing a specific position.

• Quarterbacks, place kickers, and punters: Consider lightweight shoulder pads that stay in place and don’t affect line of sight or head movement. Quarterbacks who do a lot of running may want protective pads designed for running or defensive backs.
• Backs and receivers: Look for lightweight pads that can take hits without restricting movement.
• Fullbacks, linebackers, and tight ends: Consider plated front pads that are more likely to stay in place after a hit.
• Linemen: Look for shoulder pads with few flaps for other players to grab and vinyl buckles that hold the pads in place.

In addition to shoulder pads, buy football pads to protect other areas of your body.

• Collar pads and neck rolls: Protect your collarbone with collar pads and a neck roll.
• Rib vests and rib protectors: Keep your rib cage and lungs out of harm's way by wearing a rib vest and rib protectors.
• Forearm pads: Linemen wear forearm pads to shield their arms and hands, which get pounded when blocking and tackling.
• Gloves: Linemen should buy heavily padded gloves to give their hands even more coverage. Receivers, running backs, and defensive backs should get flexible, soft gloves that have some tackiness.
• Hip pads and tailbone pads: Every player should protect their hips and tailbone. Buy a girdle to hold your hip pads and tailbone pads in place and make sure they match your uniform.
• Thigh pads: Place thigh pads in your football pants and take hits and tackles like the pros.
• Knee pads: Slide knee pads into the pockets of your football pants.

Football requires fleet footwork. Buy the right footwear to get the job done. Companies such as Nike, Adidas, Pony, Reebok, and Mizuno produce cleats in different types, styles, and materials.

Football cleat sizing

Buy football cleats that match your shoe size for the most comfortable fit.

Types of football cleats

You'll find molded cleats and detachable cleats on halfvalue.

• Molded cleats: Players who use turf fields often choose molded rubber cleats, which get a better grip on harder surfaces.
• Detachable cleats: Versatile detachable football cleats work in various field conditions, especially grass.

Football cleat styles

Football cleats come in three different heights to satisfy different needs and preferences.

• High-top football cleats: High-top football cleats provide extra ankle support for lateral movements and are often used by linemen.
• Mid-cut football cleats: Mid-cut football cleats combine maneuverability with support, making them the preferred style for most skill players.
• Low-cut football cleats: Low-cut football cleats are your best bet if you favor the lightest shoe with the most maneuverability.

Cleat materials

Football cleats can be made of leather or a synthetic material.

• Leather cleats: Durable, flexible, and comfortable leather football cleats breathe easily.
• Synthetic cleats: Inexpensive synthetic football cleats make a great choice for kids and student athletes who will outgrow their football cleats regularly.

Once you know what type of football gear you need, go to the Sporting Goods portal, click Football, and start searching for item listings on halfvalue.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Apparel & Footwear, Protective Gear, Balls, and Other Items. As you dig deeper into the site, you'll also be able to narrow down your choice by specific item type.
• Keyword search: Search halfvalue title listings for specific words. For example, if you want to find a leather NFL football, type "NFL ball leather" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping at halfvalue Stores.

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how halfvalue and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.
• Always make sure to complete your transaction on halfvalue (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of halfvalue are not covered by halfvalue protection programs.
• Never pay for your halfvalue item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?
• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?
• Most top halfvalue sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, halfvalue and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorized payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,000.
• halfvalue Security & Resolution Center: Visit the Security & Resolution Center to learn how to protect your account and use halfvalue's quick and efficient resolution tools.