| American football is not for the faint hearted. It is | | | | with the innovation of new materials such as |
| a contact sport, a physical game, where players | | | | silicon. Tear away jerseys were introduced, |
| can only be stopped from scoring by being | | | | making it no longer possible for a defender to |
| brought to the ground by an opponent. A player | | | | grab his opponent's clothing and swing him to the |
| who has possession of the football is subjected to | | | | ground. |
| bumps and hits, but must actually be tackled and | | | | Better, more lightweight padding was devised that |
| brought to the ground in order to be stopped. | | | | impeded the wearers movement less but helped |
| Another goal of the defensive player is to hit the | | | | to minimize injury to players. An unintended |
| ball carrier with enough force to dislodge the ball, | | | | consequence of these equipment improvements |
| and take it himself. Not content to wait for the | | | | is increasing levels of violence in the game. Players |
| ball carrier to get careless and "fumble" or drop | | | | may now hurl themselves and collide with more |
| the ball, defensive players work drills to strip the | | | | force without a significant risk of injury. However, |
| ball from the offensive player's hands. | | | | when an injury does occur, it is apt to be severe |
| This, as well as tackling, has to be done within a | | | | and often season or career-ending. |
| certain framework of rules that are set in place | | | | Although illegal, better helmets have allowed |
| for fairness and to give the game an element of | | | | players to use them as weapons, since the injury |
| safety. Tacklers are not allowed to use excessive | | | | to the wearer is minimized. To counteract this, a |
| force, but how this is determined in such a bone | | | | complicated series of penalties has been instituted |
| crushing game is hard to decipher. A tackler | | | | for various types of contact. Currently, any |
| cannot kick, punch or trip the ball carrier and it is | | | | contact with the helmet of a player constitutes a |
| also illegal to hit a player's helmet or grab his face | | | | foul. Quarterbacks and receivers must have |
| mask. A player cannot use his own helmet as a | | | | better arm mobility and wear less padding than |
| weapon and ram it into an opponent. These are | | | | other players, especially defensive players. For this |
| dangerous actions that can cause injury and will | | | | reason, a series of rules designed to protect the |
| draw a strong penalty, even eviction from the | | | | quarterback are in effect. If a quarter back is in |
| game, if detected. However, most other forms | | | | the actual process of throwing the ball, he is |
| of tackling are legal and many a quaterback or | | | | extremely vulnerable. It is illegal to tackle him at |
| wide receiver is laid prone by a tackler outside his | | | | this time. This has given rise to a quarterback |
| field of vision. Often, these tackles, though legal, | | | | ploy where he looks like he is going to throw, or |
| result in injury to one or even both of the players. | | | | feigns a pass to gain time and protection for |
| In an attempt at safety, football players wear | | | | himself. |
| special protective equipment, such as a padded | | | | American football is violent enough for many |
| plastic helmet, and shoulder, hip and knee pads. | | | | parents to discourage their sons from every |
| These pads were introduced to minimize the | | | | playing it, but it remains for many a rough and |
| force of a tackle or encounter with the ground | | | | tumble, much beloved sport. |
| decades ago and have been improved over time | | | | |