Shoulder pads don't get nearly as much attention as football helmets, but the fit matters just as much when it comes to comfort and being able to play the game.

Pads that are too big can shift around and get in the way. Too small, and you can lose coverage and restrict movement. And just like helmets, the size printed on the tag is only a starting point.

At Jonquil Sporting Goods, we'd much rather put the pads on your player and see how they actually fit than sell you a size based on a chart.

Youth Shoulder Pad Sizing Is a Starting Point

Most youth shoulder pads are sized using a combination of chest measurement, shoulder width, and weight. A player's jersey or shirt size can also give us a general idea of where to start.

But that's exactly what it is — a place to start.

Two kids who are the same age, height, or weight can be built completely differently. One may have broad shoulders and a narrow chest. Another may be built the exact opposite.

That's why we don't put much faith in "He's 10, so what size does he need?"

Bring him in. We'll put some pads on him.

What We're Looking for in a Proper Fit

When we fit youth shoulder pads, we're looking at more than whether we can buckle the straps.

The pads should sit properly on the shoulders without hanging too far outside the player's frame. The shoulder caps should cover the shoulder joint without interfering with normal arm movement. The pads should sit close to the body and stay in place when the player moves.

Then we let the player move.

Raise your arms. Reach forward. Twist. Move around a little.

Football players don't stand perfectly still with their arms at their sides, so that's not how we judge whether shoulder pads fit.

Bigger Isn't Better

One of the more common mistakes we see is buying shoulder pads too big so a young player can "grow into them."

We understand the thinking. Football equipment isn't cheap, and nobody wants to buy it twice.

But too much room isn't necessarily a good thing. Oversized pads can move around, interfere with the helmet, restrict movement, and put the protective areas of the pad somewhere other than where they're supposed to be.

A little room for growth is one thing.

Buying equipment that doesn't fit now in hopes that it fits next year is another.

Most Youth Players Don't Need Position-Specific Shoulder Pads

At the youth level, we generally recommend a good, all-purpose shoulder pad rather than getting too caught up in position-specific equipment.

There's a simple reason for that: young players change positions.

A 9-year-old may play offensive line this season and quarterback, running back, or receiver the next. Especially at the younger ages, we don't think it makes much sense to put a player into a highly specialized shoulder pad based on the position he happens to be playing today.

That's why we typically carry only one or two youth shoulder pad styles each season. We've already narrowed the choices down to pads that we think work well for the vast majority of young football players.

At the high school level, or for an older player competing at a high level with a more established position, that's a different conversation. Position-specific pads can absolutely make sense.

For most youth players, though, we keep it simple:

Find a good youth shoulder pad. Make sure it fits correctly. Let the kid play football.

What Should You Bring to a Shoulder Pad Fitting?

The most important thing to bring is pretty simple:

Your football player.

If you already have the game jersey, bring it along and we're happy to make sure it fits properly over the pads. If you don't have it yet, that's fine too.

If your player also needs a helmet, we'd recommend bringing him in for both fittings at the same time. We can check the helmet and shoulder pads individually and make sure they work properly together.

You can also take a look at our current youth shoulder pads before coming in.

Helmet and Shoulder Pad Fittings at the Same Time

A lot of families come into Jonquil and knock out the helmet and shoulder pads in one trip.

That's usually what we'd recommend.

The helmet needs to fit the player's head. The shoulder pads need to fit his body. But they also need to work together once everything is on.

If the back of the helmet is constantly hitting the pads, something isn't right. If the pads are pushing the helmet up or affecting the player's normal head movement, we want to see that before you leave the store — not at the first practice.

Free Football Equipment Fitting at Jonquil Sporting Goods

You don't need an appointment for a football fitting at Jonquil Sporting Goods.

Bring your player into the store and we'll try different sizes and, when appropriate, different models until we find what fits him properly.

We've been fitting football equipment for a long time. We aren't going to measure your kid, read a chart, hand you a box, and send you on your way.

We're going to put the equipment on him.

Because when it comes to youth football equipment, the best size isn't the one the chart says should fit.

It's the one that actually fits.

Contact Jonquil Sporting Goods if you have any questions before stopping by.