Whether you are a youth, high school, semi-professional, professional, or weekend football player, you need to know how to stay safe on the field. Football safety can be done in any number of ways, all of which will keep you on the field longer.

At Battle Sports, we put a focus on sports safety. Which is why we are here to cover a few basic football safety tips – like having the right football equipment – to keep you safe on the field.

Stay Active

One of the things about football to consider is the physical rigors of the sport. You can’t just get up off your couch for the first time in months or years and expect to do well on the field. If anything, that will likely lead to injury.

Part of proper football safety means staying in shape. As much as football equipment is important, it can only protect you from the outside. If you aren’t in shape, those muscles and tendons will be under greater strain, putting you at greater risk of injury.

It is important to focus on not only strength, but flexibility and cardiovascular activities. You can even try doing specific sports drills that work on lateral movement. Even before you play, you can stay better prepared by stretching before start.

Keep an Eye on the Weather

No matter what kind of football player you fancy yourself to be, the elements can have a say on how you perform. Depending on what kind of football you are playing – competitive or recreational – and where you live, weather can have a huge impact on the game and how you stay safe.

Football safety tips can be hard to adhere to prior to a game with turbulent weather. You can stretch and prepare as best as you can, but when there is a lot of rain or snow, it can throw your pre-football game routine into disarray.

Still, being properly stretched beforehand, while also using equipment that is a little stronger, can prepare you for the slips and falls that will come just a little bit better. It might also be worthwhile to slow down a bit in order to avoid those unexpected slips and falls that can lead to serious injury.

Have the Right Gear

There are some leagues that are flag or touch only. For those who are playing in a league that allows contact, having the right football equipment is an absolute must. You don’t want to be under protected on the field and take a hit that can compromise your health.

Of the most important football safety tips, having the proper football equipment is perhaps the most important. You need to stay as safe as possible and know that you are protected so that you can do your best on the field.

Equipment can run the gamut and vary depending on the position that you play. Helmets, cleats, thigh and shoulder pads, and mouthguards are all necessary. Each serves its own specific purpose, most of the time absorbing impacts.

Different positions might require gloves, tape, braces, or anything else that can allow your body to perform at optimal levels. Battle Sports offers a number of guides related to football equipment that can help you be best prepared when you step on the field.

Always Warm Up

A simple mistake that any athlete can make is going into an athletic event cold. What does that mean? Well, it means that you go into an event without having warmed your body up by doing stretches or light exercises.

Getting your blood pumping and making sure that your muscles are loose, will ensure that you are ready to take on the rigors of the game. Without proper stretching, you will be at risk for muscle pulls that are not only painful but will keep you off the football field.

There are a few universal stretches that should do the job. Depending on your position, there are a few niche stretches that could help as well. For football, stretching hamstrings, groin muscles, and keeping the body loose is crucial to avoiding injury.

Stay Healthy on the Field

Though football is a game of quick twitch movements and, in some cases, physicality, you can do a few things that help you be your best. Taking a few precautions like stretching and keeping fit can help you to be the best football player that you can be.

Most importantly, they can help you stay on the field instead of having to sit on the sidelines nursing an injury. No one wants to have to sit out and watch the action from afar.