Perhaps the most important piece of American football apparel is the helmet to protect your head from being knocked about.

All amateur teams and leagues will insist on your wearing a helmet and while they range in price, a better quality one will not only fit better but also last longer meaning more time in between purchases.

To cover the large shoulder pads and chest plates, American football shirts are oversized which means you can’t just wear anything you like to play in a proper game. You can buy jerseys for the team you support or even get custom designers for the team you play for.

Without a ball there could be no game but the ins and outs of the different types of American football need to be covered before you make a purchase. Different materials will fit different circumstances and impact on how long the football lasts, how well it grips and how far you can throw it.

If you want to support your team while out and about you probably do not want the full sized American football shirt but instead get a jersey which has no space for pads so fits comfortably on your natural frame.

With the fast paced action during a game of American football, many players will use a glove to ensure a good grip on the ball and more control over the pass. This is especially important for quarter backs.

Since American football is a high impact sport, players in the NFL and most other professional or amateur leagues around the world wear light but strong shoulder pads to protect themselves from serious injury.

To maintain a good footing on what can sometimes be a wet or muddy pitch, players should wear a good pair of American football boots which differ ever so slightly from the traditional boot a football or rugby player might wear.