Why not make it as entertaining as possible? Visit the SFIA Football Glove and Hand Pad Specification page. "When you go without gloves, it doesnt feel good when the ball hits your hand a certain way. The most common type of glove used by football players is the full-finger glove. This glove-related backlash seems to take place just about whenever Beckham winds up on Top Plays for a catch, which is increasingly often. Against Seattle he similarly switched them on and off. "I saw them when I was at a meeting in Indy.

The choice of material depends on how much contact you have with other players and objects on the field. All rights reserved. Sticky gloves like Beckham's are permitted, provided that "such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.". They use these gloves to protect their hands from injuries that may come from football. Kenneth has a degree in physical education with a minor in sports management from California Polytechnic State University. Sports governing bodies including the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) as well as a number of youth leagues require that football gloves used during game play meet certain performance standards. This glove-related backlash seems to take place just about whenever Beckham winds up on Top Plays for a catch, which is increasingly often. They dont make you catch a football.". In his second year in the NFL, Odell Beckham Jr. has already accumulated a career's worth of jaw-dropping highlights. "The guy's a freak of nature, no doubt about it, I'll give you that. Stay up to date with what you want to know.

Beckham is the first to admit that. For example, cloth gloves are popular with offensive linemen because they are lighter and more flexible than their leather counterparts. But as our conversation wrapped up, I offered Beckham a hypothetical not far from Madden's of a sticky glove without a hand catching a ball. "No one looks at those gloves," longtime NFL commentator John Madden said. The NFL has gone on record and said it plans to take a close look at whether the gloves should be outlawed, or more heavily regulated. The NFL's current regulations on gloves state that "adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player" are not permitted. He has been playing, coaching, and managing sports for over 20 years. Secondly, it is for protection. But as our conversation wrapped up, I offered Beckham a hypothetical not far from Madden's of a sticky glove without a hand catching a ball. For example, if you are asked to block or tackle then you will need a heavier glove than someone playing on a team that focuses on passing games. However, there is a small movement of the head and shoulders while maintaining eye contact with the receiver. If they don't make you catch a football, at the very least they help. "You know, your quarterbacks are throwing forty miles per hour in a spiral," he said. This is why nearly all NFL wide receivers wear gloves. All brands and models of gloves listed on this page have met the SFIA Football Glove & Hand Pad performance specification that certifies the gloves are legal for use in game play sanctioned by the NFHS, the NCAA and youth leagues. The SFIA Football Glove & Hand Pad Specification meets the requirements set forth by both the NFHS and NCAA. Sign up for notifications from Insider! "The Tampa game, the Seattle game last year I went without them. Gloves can be worn by NFL and NCAA players of all positions, but they are most typically seen on quarterbacks, wide receivers, running backs, linemen, and others. ", As it currently stands, the NFL's rules on gloves go as follows: "adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player" are not allowed. They also protect the hands from injuries such as cuts and bruises that may occur during football play. In college, some wide receivers choose to wear gloves to provide a better grip on the ball or to help block out defenders. On Tuesday, Beckham sat down with Business Insider at MetLife Stadium while promoting his relationship with Head & Shoulders, and offered his thoughts on the NFL's great glove debate. Illegal gloveless tackles happen from time to time, but they're very rare. They are most likely protecting themselves from injury. Get a daily selection of our top stories based on your reading preferences. "I think it's time to go back and look at the gloves and see if, with what's going on here with sports science in the past 10 years, if there isn't too much of an advantage being gained," Rich McKay, the president of the Atlanta Falcons and the chairman of the league's Competition Committee, "It's an entertainment business. Madden is, of course, characteristically hyperbolic. "I think it's time to go back and look at the gloves and see if, with what's going on here with sports science in the past 10 years, if there isn't too much of an advantage being gained," Rich McKay, the president of the Atlanta Falcons and the chairman of the league's Competition Committee, told the LA Times in August. Collinsworth summed it up nicely when he told the LA Times, "It's an entertainment business. You won't see many defensive backs without gloves on because they need to handle balls and other objects in games and practices. After the most famous play from Beckham's rookie season the catch against the Cowboys that Cris Collinsworth called the best catch he'd ever seen Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown said that Beckham's catches need to be appreciated in a different light because of the sticky gloves he wears. A quarterback will often wear a pair of glove during practice or a game if he is hit with a hard object. Why not make it as entertaining as possible?". In conclusion, any NFL player not wearing gloves is probably not doing so pursuant to league rules. "adhesive or slippery substances on the body, equipment, or uniform of any player" are not allowed. These performance standards ensure the glove does not give the player an unfair advantage in controlling the football. ", (A cursory YouTube search shows that against the Buccaneers during Week 9, Beckham only briefly went barehanded during a rainy portion of the third quarter, during which his defender intercepted a pass and deflected another, before Beckham put the gloves back on for the fourth quarter. If you make one and the play continues into the end zone, then you've committed a foul worthy of a penalty flag. What kind of shoes does a coach wear on the sideline? ), Old-school NFL players who feel strongly about the gloves seem to forget that at the end of the day the NFL is another form of entertainment, and that gloves help increase the entertainment on display. Some players wear custom-made gloves to show off their branding or to give them a more 'aggressive' look on the field. Speech, Debate & Theatre Directors & Judges, SFIA Football Glove & Hand Pad Specification, Pace of Play and Fair Play Addressed in 2023 High School Girls Lacrosse Rules Changes, NFHS Signs New Corporate Partnership with United States Marine Corps, New NFHS Officers, Board Members Elected for 2022-23, Pappas to Inducted into the NMOA Hall of Fame, Beyond Pulse Announced as New NFHS Corporate Partner, SFIA Football Glove Specification Program. Wide receivers are not required to wear gloves, although it is advised that they do. Why do football players wear yellow gloves. All products that have met the SFIA Football Glove performance specification will possess the mark (as depicted to the right) on the glove and on merchandise packaging. The gloves are really there to help with the friction. "They definitely could help you, if you got the right ones on," he said. A few even go without wearing mittens during cold weather games. Finally, your individual job requirements will influence which glove you believe is finest. When asked if he ever thought about going without the gloves, Beckham told Business Insider that in certain circumstances mostly weather-related he has ditched the gloves and opted for his bare hands. Defensive linemen often wear gloves during practice to learn how things work on the field. These gloves allow for complete freedom of movement while providing good protection against blows to the hand. Copyright 2022 NFHS. This allows the quarterback to gauge the speed of the ball and get it into the proper trajectory before it reaches its destination. "Ive gone games without them," he said. ", "No one looks at those gloves," longtime NFL commentator John Madden, Madden is, of course, characteristically hyperbolic. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider practically before the Jets secondary had even brought Beckham to the ground on that very same play, a handful of critics had already sounded off against Beckham and delegitimized the catch completely, all because Beckham wears gloves when he plays. Otherwise, you had nothing to worry about legally. I said to Beckham that it wasn't as though wearing the gloves would allow me to catch an Eli Manning pass. When did football players start to wear helmets? For example, if an offensive lineman's position requires him to hit another player with his shoulder then he should wear a protective cup under his glove to avoid getting injured. Who decides what position a player will play? They passed them around and somebody made the comment that, 'Pretty soon, these gloves are going to be able to catch a ball without a hand in them.'". Finally, it's for style. And lastly, they are looking good! Quarterbacks usually look straight ahead when throwing a ball. The coaches wear black shoes or sneakers and can be seen on the sidelines at home games and during practice. Finally, gloves are also used by defensive linemen to protect themselves from injuries that may come from playing football. But practically before the Jets secondary had even brought Beckham to the ground on that very same play, a handful of critics had already sounded off against Beckham and delegitimized the catch completely, all because Beckham wears gloves when he plays. This includes substances such as "gum or tape" which may allow a player to gain an advantage over opponents. Gloves are used by the majority of NFL and college football players. Footballs adhere to the sticky surface of the glove, making them simpler to catch. A team's coaching staff decides what role each player will have on the field during game action. The shoes should be comfortable because they will often spend a lot of time sitting down. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Like I said, [gloves] definitely help, but I dont think [they are] the ultimate decider. I said to Beckham that it wasn't as though wearing the gloves would allow, NOW WATCH: LeBron James just signed the biggest endorsement deal in Nike history. How did sticky gloves change the way football was played? Copyright 2020 - 2022 Sportsmanist Inc. Do quarterbacks not throw with their eyes? Offensive linemen usually wear gloves during practice as well as game days. On Sunday, the Giants wide receiver hauled in a routine, 22-yard reception against the Jets that he somehow plucked right out of midair, with one hand, on an Eli Manning pass that should have sailed well over his head. There are several reasons why players wear gloves. "But those gloves are so 'tackified' these days that that's part of the reason you see guys making those kinds of catches.". "But I could never give credit to my gloves for something that, you know, I sit there and practice doing. First of all, it is because they are allowed to by league rules. Kenneth Harper is a former professional athlete who now teaches people how to win at sports. He has the big hands and all that," Brown told the LA Times. To prevent injury, offensive linemen who do not wear gloves cover their hands with thick and intricate tape on their hands and wrists. But the debate is ongoing, and as the weather drops it will only pick up momentum. Full-fingered gloves are available in several different materials, including leather, synthetic leather, and cloth. Exponent, a certified ISO 9001 firm with over 90 scientific and engineering disciplines, staff of approximately 900, located in 20 offices throughout the United States and 5 international offices, is the independent lab that will verify gloves certified to the SFIA specification meet the requirements of those specifications. After the most famous play from Beckham's rookie season . Sticky gloves like Beckham's are permitted, provided that "such tacky substance does not adhere to the football or otherwise cause handling problems for players.". Many football players like to play the game while wearing gloves. The guy's a freak of nature, no doubt about it, I'll give you that.