Lacrosse is a rough and tough game. It is just right to say that it can be rougher than football. In this competitive sport, it becomes vital to wear protective gear to protect your bones and muscles. It’s a contact sport that demands diverse protection and you need different gears to play without getting hurt. Among the other important protective equipment, shoulder pads are important to protect the upper body.
In lacrosse, shoulder pads not only protect the shoulders but other parts as well including the collar bone, shoulder blades, sternum, and upper back. As it is a contact sport, covering all these parts lowers the chances of severe injuries during the play. The padding on the sternum and collar bone reduces the impact so you can play without worries.
When it comes to the lacrosse shoulder pads, finding the right fit is necessary to gain the most from this protective gear. Perfectly fit shoulder pads maximize protection and provide flexibility to amplify the fun. Now the question is, how to find the right fit that gives you utmost protection with elevated fun? Here is the answer to how should lacrosse shoulder pads fit?
Lacrosse shoulder pads are available in different styles: traditional shoulder pads, hybrid shoulder pads, and shoulder liners. Every style has its pros and cons. However, no matter which style you select, your shoulder pads must fit without limiting your moving abilities – you must remain as flexible as possible. Alongside, there should be abundant padding in the collarbone region and sternum.
For the shoulder pads, different sizes are available in each style. You mainly get to see extra small, small, medium, large, and extra-large. But this scaling varies from one manufacturer to another. There’s no universal scaling so you must individually check the size chart offered by the manufacturer that you select. When you choose the right size, only then the shoulder pads will be able to cover your sternum and collar bones. Otherwise, the padding will not cover these parts properly to provide optimal protection. Wrong padding can lead to wounds and injuries.
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How to Select the Right Size of Shoulder Pads?
The size of the lacrosse shoulder pads is of utmost importance to give the best of this equipment. Here are the simple tips to check which size can provide you enough protection along with making you highly moveable without burden.
- Measure your chest size:
Start with measuring your chest size. You can do it yourself; however, due to the angle your eyes make with the measuring tape, you may get the incorrect reading. You can ask some other person to take a reading for you. Ask your parents or friends to take your measurements.
To measure your chest size, you will need a flexible measuring tape that is usually used to take readings of your clothes. Stand up in a relaxed position and measure the upper torso, just a bit under your arms, to check your chest size. When you are taking the reading, wear a tight shirt so this way your clothing will not impact your reading.
- Measure your shoulder size:
To measure your shoulder size you need to take the distance from one shoulder end to another. For that, stand in an alert position straight. Use the flexible measuring tape to take the reading between the joints of your shoulder. Check the reading and note it down.
Now when you have your readings, you can consult the size chart of the shoulder pads provided by the manufacturer. Along with the measurements of your chest and shoulders, you will also see the weight in many size charts. It is because these pads are sized by weight class to provide ideal fitting. So, it is also necessary to know your weight. Usually, it is for the young players.
Once you have the shoulder pads, it is time to secure them properly to get ample protection. The pads must easily slip into your head. When in the right place, it is time to secure all the laces and straps. Different brands have different securing systems, but each will call for connecting the front and back of your shoulder pads. Connect all the straps and belts – they should feel tight but comfortable. It will cover you from the back and front. At the shoulders, it will cover an inch extra.
A properly fit shoulder must cover your body parts especially the sternum and upper shoulder when you are moving. The padding must give you complete coverage. Jump, move your hands, pretend to hold the lacrosse stick, and do every movement you can think of that you enjoy during the game. Your shoulder pads should remain in their place even during movement. You must double-check to confirm the fit and comfort.
If you follow all the above-mentioned steps properly, you can get the best fitting with complete mobility to always give the performance you desire. Just remember, the shoulder pads only allow you to perform at their best when fit perfectly, if not, even very expensive shoulder pads will not be able to give you the desired results.
An Important Note Before You Purchase Shoulder Pads
There are a few things to consider before you make your purchase. Certain changes have been made in the protective equipment standards this year. That means you cannot go for the old versions of the shoulder pads. These measures are taken to improve your protection overall.
At the start of this year, it is made compulsory that lacrosse shoulder pads that are used in the game must meet all the NOCSAE’s (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) standards. Alongside, it is also necessary that they have SEI’s (Safety Equipment Institute) certification. So, whenever you are making your purchase, you must check both of these labels. Otherwise, you cannot use your shoulder pad in the game. Just follow the tips we have given here to get the best shoulder pads.