Whether you’re shopping for your kid’s first kit or stocking up for your own upcoming season, you might be curious: Do linemen wear back plates? Does every player need a back plate?

The short answer is yes: linemen (and players in every position) can and do wear football back plates.¹ In fact, linemen might be some of the most important back plate candidates on the field. Since they’re prone to taking hard hits, linemen stand to benefit from the increased spinal protection a back plate can offer.

Below, we’ll explore the back plate in detail, break down some of its benefits, and work through some key considerations for linemen in search of the perfect back plate.

What Is a Back Plate for Football?

Let’s start with the basics. What is a back plate? A football back plate is:

• A piece of protective equipment that attaches to the shoulder pads to shield the lower back 
• A potential style component—it can round out your kit’s color scheme

Back plates are like other football pads: They disperse the pressure of a hit across a wider surface area, protecting the body from high-impact tackles and falls. Helmets and football mouthguards use the same principle, too. 

Back plates specifically protect the lower spine—an area that’s particularly sensitive to injuries.² During a game, you might encounter impacts to the back during a tackle or an accidental fall.

But aside from protection, back plates can be an important piece of football drip. Whether you choose your team’s color, plaster an intimidating sticker onto your back plate, or go for an eye-catching graffiti design, your back plate can tie your whole kit together and help you showcase your personality on the field.

Are Back Plates Required for Linemen?

Back plates generally aren’t required for linemen (or any position), but check your league’s or school’s rules closely: They may require one, and you don’t want to show up to your first practice with an incomplete kit. Ensuring that all your equipment is complete—like football gloves, shoulder pads, and a properly fitted football helmet—is essential for being ready for practice and games.

Even if your organization doesn’t require back plates, you should consider adding one to your kit for optimal protection.³ One of the most important ways to prevent football injuries is to use equipment that⁴:

• Protects the most vulnerable parts of your body
• Works as intended
• Fits well without interrupting mobility
• Is well-maintained

A back plate can help prevent injuries to your:

• Back – Since they cover your lower back specifically, back plates are designed to protect your spine from hard hits.
• Butt – The average back plate covers the top of your butt, protecting your tailbone from hard falls.

Even though may not always seem critical, the bones in your back and butt (your spine, hip bones, and tailbone) are some of the most important for your mobility. They’re especially important for football players, who must be highly mobile, take explosive actions during plays, and maintain enough stability and strength to excel in their positions. 

Benefits of Wearing a Back Plate for Linemen

Why should linemen consider wearing a back plate? Let’s take a deeper dive into some of their biggest benefits.

Enhanced Lower Back Protection

Remember everything we said about the bones in your back and butt? Protecting these is key, and it’s the primary job of a back plate. 

What are the potential consequences of not wearing a back plate and suffering an injury?

• Short-term benching – Even if it’s just for one drive, sitting out of the game could have major consequences for your team. Preventing injuries will keep you on the field and in the red zone.
• Major injuries – Back injuries can have significant consequences for your health. Anytime you get injured, you run the risk of major health complications (which will only keep you on the bench for longer).
• The end of a career – Unfortunately, injuries are a risk in tackle football—it’s a high-contact sport. A debilitating back injury (even in a youth league) could put the kibosh on the rest of your football career.

For football players (especially linemen, who take some of the hardest hits), protecting your body from injuries should be priority number one (closely followed by winning). 

Improved Comfort, Swag, and Confidence on the Field

While getting injured is always a risk in any sport, worrying about that risk won’t improve your mindset on or off the field. Instead of worrying about risks, take steps to mitigate them.

With the knowledge that you’ve taken every possible precaution, you can step onto the field comfortably. And, with less brain space taken up by stress and worry, you can focus on the plays at hand. 

Plus, there’s no better feeling than stepping onto the field dripping from head to toe. With each piece of protective gear coordinated into the ultimate game-day ensemble, there’s nothing stopping you from dominating on every drive. 

There’s simply no replacement for swag, and a back plate can easily add a pop of color or a flash of personality to your ‘fit.

Reduced Risk of Specific Injuries for Linemen

Let’s face it: Linemen take a lot of heavy hits. After all, it’s their job—protecting the quarterback and receivers during offensive drives and contributing to a strong defense are all critical tasks on the field. Linemen get the job done, and they put themselves in the path of contact to do it. 

As a result, linemen are at risk for some specific injuries:

• Impact injuries – The sheer force of running into another person with the intent to knock them down is intense—sometimes intense enough to cause injuries. 
• Fall injuries – As they protect receivers and the QB from the opposing team’s defense, linemen are bound to take a lot of falls (both to the front and back of their bodies).
• Back injuries – Since linemen are liable to be hit in the back or on their sides (or fall on these areas), they’re susceptible to injuries there. 

This is why a back plate is critical for linemen. As defensive players (and when they’re doing their jobs well), linemen are at an increased risk for contact—and, therefore, injuries.

Back Plate Considerations for Linemen

What should you know before you buy a back plate? Let’s cover the most important considerations.

Sizing

Like any other protective equipment, your back plate should:

• Completely cover the area it’s designed to shield from contact
• Fit snugly without interfering with play or movement
• Minimally shift, flap, or move both during and between plays

Back plates generally come in two size ranges: adult and youth. Even if you’re a youth player, your size might demand an adult size. Check out our blog to learn more about what size back plate to get for football.

While trying on a back plate, make sure it’s the right size by:

• Moving around – Take a lap in your back plate. While you shouldn’t tackle anyone in the sporting goods aisle, perform the movements you normally would on the field.

• Stretching – Lift your arms over your head, touch your toes, and twist at the waist. If your back plate stays put and continues to cover your lower back while you’re shifting, it’s the right size. 
• Testing it on the field – There’s no way to know whether or not a piece of gear is right for you until you playtest it. The same is true for all football gear, including back plates. Take your back plate for a spin during your next practice to get a feel for its fit and performance.

Style

Even if it’s unspoken, football drip means everything. A well-coordinated palette, a strong match with your teammates, or a kit that screams “you” can make or break your confidence on the field. 

So, keep this in mind as you shop for a back plate. As you peruse different designs and colorways, seek inspiration from:

• Your team colors – Going for color consistency? Matching your jersey is a simple way to get a seamless drip. 
• Your favorite art – Whether you’re into neo-traditional illustration, graffiti, intimidating signs, or something else, there’s a back plate out there for you.
• Your favorite players – Got an idol? Find out what they’re wearing, and find a way to riff on it to make it your own. 

If you’re into monochromatic looks or like to keep it subtle, don’t worry—there are more muted back plate designs out there for you, too. 

Hardware

Your back plate will connect to your shoulder pads via a strap. But you’ll need some key hardware to complete the setup:

• Washers
• T-nuts
• Screws

These typically come in a back plate hardware pack, but they’re sometimes included in a back plate package. Before checking out online or at the sporting goods store, make sure you have everything you need to don your back plate correctly on game day. 

Explore Battle Sports Back Plates Today

Do linemen wear back plates? Absolutely, and for good reason—they’re at the line of scrimmage and in the line of fire, so they need all the protection they can get. 

Whether you’re looking for your first back plate or a fresh replacement for last season’s drip, check out Battle Sports: your home for football swag and equipment that makes a statement. With gear in every team color, designs for every style, and hardware that holds up to the hardest tackles, you can’t go wrong with anything in our collection. 

Start building your fresh kit with Battle Sports.

Sources: 

1. Battle Sports. What Is a Back Plate and Why Is It Needed?. https://blog.battlesports.com/what-is-a-back-plate-and-why-is-it-needed 
2. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Lumbar Strain. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lumbar-strain-weight-lifters-back 
3. Helmet Fitting. The Basics of Youth Football Equipment. https://www.helmetfitting.com/news/the-basics-of-youth-football-equipment/ 
4. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Football Injury Prevention. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/staying-healthy/football-injury-prevention/