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Don’t underestimate the importance of what goes underneath your football uniform. Whether you wear compression shirts, undershirts, or protective gear, each piece of the base layer helps enhance your performance and safeguard your body on the field.
The right gear should be comfortable, lightweight, and fit like a second skin without constricting movement. You don’t want loose pads, chafing undershirts, or a cold sweaty uniform when out in the field, do you?
Sports Gear Swag makes it easy to find and select uniforms, undergarments, and protective gear for any American Football team. We have a wide selection of base layer designs, materials, and sizes available for all NFL teams, college leagues, and minor leagues.
Best of all, you can fully customize your football uniform and every essential piece that goes with it right here at SGS. Whether you’re a pro-level football player or a fan looking to show your love, let’s help you get your football swag right.
Many football players wear a compression shirt or undershirt to keep the body cool and provide muscle support. A base layer of compression garments maintains body heat, wicks away sweat, and enhances comfort.
Compression shirts are designed to be worn under a football jersey, serving as a base layer or undershirt that helps regulate body temperature by wicking away sweat and moisture. They offer a close, secure fit that can enhance comfort and mobility while playing.
Additionally, the compression aspect of these shirts may provide some level of muscle support during physical activity, reducing muscle fatigue and aiding in performance. Here are some tidbits on how compression shirts help you perform at your best when playing:
Plus, compression shirts feel great once you get used to them. If you’re wondering what to wear under a football jersey, get one of these to help you train and play better.
Look for shirts made from breathable materials that offer moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry and cool throughout the game. Ensure the fit is snug but not restrictive, allowing for a full range of motion.
Compression shirts are particularly crucial for comfort and protection. Let Sports Gear Swag help you design a perfectly customized fit for you. For example, if a long-sleeve shirt is not your style, we’ll make a sleeveless one for you, throw in some additional support for your back, or whatever else you need.
Given that football is a contact sport, shoulder pads are a must-have for any active football player. They are worn under the jersey to protect the shoulders, collarbone, and upper chest.
Shoulder pads absorb impact during tackles and collisions on the field. Research suggests that the right shoulder pads could help reduce concussions and head injuries, a major issue in contact sports, such as football and hockey.
When choosing shoulder pads, consider factors such as size, fit, and level of protection. The level of protection needed varies based on the position you play.
For example, quarterbacks may prefer lighter, more flexible pads for better mobility, while linemen might need extra padding to withstand frequent physical impacts.
Check for adjustable features that can enhance fit and comfort, such as removable padding or adjustable straps. However, if you’re looking for lightweight and less cumbersome equipment, consider wearing our custom-made integrated compression shirts instead.
Some football players wear additional rib protection on top of the base layer, which can be worn under the jersey to safeguard the ribs from impact.
The ribs are particularly vulnerable to hits and tackles to a football player, so it’s important to protect them during gameplay. A rib protector or rib guard provides extra cushioning and support to the ribs, reducing the risk of injuries such as bruising or fractures.
The best protectors are typically made from lightweight, rigid plastic with foam padding. They can be worn under the jersey without causing discomfort or restricting movement. They're also contoured to fit the shape of the ribs, ensuring a snug and secure fit during play.
Some rib protectors also feature additional padding along the sides to offer further protection against impacts from various angles. If you don’t need a lot of protection, you can choose a football base layer that comes with integrated padding on the chest area.
As a football player, you must wear thigh and knee protection on the field as part of the base layer. Most professional players wear football pants, usually an integrated girdle that includes hip, thigh, and sometimes knee pads.
Football pants provide vital protection to the lower body during intense gameplay. Here's how the various parts of football pants offer enhanced protection and comfort:
Hip pads: Cushion the hips against impacts
Thigh pads: Protect the thighs from collisions
Knee pads: Offer additional knee support and protection
Moisture-wicking fabric: Helps keep the lower body dry and comfortable
Flexibility: Allows for unrestricted movement on the field
Although you can buy football pants and protective pads separately, most people today opt for integrated versions of the base layer due to their built-in flexibility. It allows for unrestricted movement, which is crucial for executing plays effectively.
Football players who go into the field without this vital piece of gear are asking for the worst.
Most male football players wear a protective cup, also called an athletic supporter or jock cup, to protect the groin area when playing football.
The jock cup is a rigid, bowl-shaped device made of plastic, polycarbonate, or even metal that covers the genitals and protects them from impact injury. With this kind of safety, you can focus on your football games without worrying about potentially severe testicular injury.
Despite the rigid material, the right cup should fit snugly and comfortably. A good cup comes with foam or gel padding that allows for a firm, secure fit and complete freedom of movement.
Although not strictly mandatory and often a pain in the jaw, mouthguards are an essential accessory worn during games and practices to protect your teeth and mouth.
When you get the inevitable impact on your head and face, a mouthguard acts as a barrier and shock absorber that helps to prevent dental injuries, jaw fractures, and lip lacerations.
A mouthguard even cushions blows to the face, reducing the risk of concussions by absorbing some of the impact.
When choosing a mouthguard, choose a custom-fit one from your dentist or a boil-and-bite option for a snug fit. Make sure it's properly fitted to guarantee it stays in place during intense gameplay.
While not worn under the jersey, cleats are a crucial part of a football uniform, providing traction on the field. Consider the following factors when selecting the right pair of cleats for your football games.
Choose cleats based on the playing surface. For example, molded cleats work well on grass, while detachable cleats offer versatility for various field conditions. Here’s a summary of different types of playing surfaces and the right cleats for them:
Detachable Cleats: For variable conditions; longer studs for wet and muddy fields, shorter ones for dry fields
Molded Cleats: For well-maintained grass fields
Turf Shoes: Designed with many small nubs for optimal grip on artificial surfaces
Short-studded Molded Cleats: For maximum traction and safety on artificial turf
Molded Cleats: These have medium-length studs for balance.
Detachable Cleats: Versatile for adjusting to softer or variable conditions.
Make sure your cleats fit snugly but comfortably. They should provide ample support without causing discomfort or blisters during play.
For maximum comfort, football players wear their cleats with high-quality socks that have moisture-wicking, breathable, and cooling features. Ideally, wear double-layered socks to reduce friction and minimize the chance of blisters when playing football.
Alternatively, you can wear two pairs of football socks: a thin, breathable pair of grip socks inside, then regular football socks outside. In fact, some professional soccer players wear two or more pairs of socks, so maybe it works!
Opt for cleats that offer sufficient ankle support to help prevent injuries and provide stability as you make quick movements on the field.
Selecting the right cleats can greatly impact your performance by offering the traction needed to sprint, pivot, and cut effectively when playing football.
Custom football uniforms that fit correctly are a smart investment and are incomparable to off-the-shelf uniforms when it comes to comfort. They help improve morale in the team, and in so doing, custom uniforms can help improve team performance.
Former star player, now head coach Deion SandersIt, described this psychological effect this way: “Look good, feel good, play good.” A uniform that makes football players feel confident and relaxed can be a big morale booster out on the field.
Plus, sports base layers and custom football jerseys don’t have to be expensive. Sports Gear Swag has some of the lowest prices on custom sports gear, with additional discounts when you buy in bulk.
We also make it easy to select, personalize, and order football uniforms and equipment for individuals and teams. One customer had this to say:
★★★★★“This is my 4th time ordering from Sports Gear Swag. I have only had one mishap with them, and they immediately corrected the mistake. The quality is great, the shipment time is amazing, and their communication team is beyond expectations. I plan on using this company for all of my uniform and sports needs.” —Isvy A. (TX, United States)
Don’t be left behind. SGS can help you get in the right headspace to perform at your best.
Once you have all the essential gear and base layer under your football uniform, you're ready to hit the field with confidence. Remember, wearing the right gear not only protects you but also enhances your performance on game day.
Before you go, be sure to check out our huge collection of custom football gear, custom footballs and other customizable training apparel. We have everything an athlete needs to show up in style and perform their best with the right fitting gear!
Stay focused, play hard, and win!