Douglas shoulder pads are popular among quarterbacks because they allow a wide range of motion which enables a variety of throws from different angles. Their lightweight design also ensures quarterbacks can maintain speed and agility when maneuvering within or outside the pocket.
Properly fitting shoulder pads should sit comfortably on your shoulders and give you roughly 1" of padding on your shoulder. They should completely cover your upper shoulders and sternum and not pinch your collarbone or neck.
There are two styles of football shoulder pads: cantilevered and noncantilevered. Cantilevered shoulder pads are typically used by offensive linemen, linebackers and sometimes defensive linemen. They are bigger to protect the shoulders during blocking and tackling. Noncantilevered shoulder pads are smaller and lighter than cantilevered. The padding covers the collarbone to allow for a larger range of motion. This type of padding is preferred by quarterbacks, receivers, and youth players.
Depending on the tasks involved with each position, players require different types of pads. Typically, players such as linesman who block and tackle more need bulkier, cantilevered pads whereas positions focused on throwing and running such as receivers and quarterbacks, require flatter, noncantilevered pads for the added mobility.
If properly cared for, football shoulder pads should easily last anywhere from 2-3 seasons provided they do not get cracked, damage, or lose any important padding. For youth players, new pads may be needed every season as they often quickly grow out of their old pads.
