Football Helmet Guides

Practical answers to the questions players and parents ask most before buying a football helmet: how to size it, what it should cost, how to care for it and what the stickers mean.

• Football Helmet Safety Ratings Explained
  How Virginia Tech football helmet ratings work, what 5 stars means, which helmets we sell are 5-star rated, and how to choose the safest helmet.
• How to Measure and Fit a Football Helmet
  How to measure your head for a football helmet, match it to the right size and shell, and check the fit in 7 points. Youth and adult helmets.
• Football Helmet Reconditioning & Recertification Explained
  What football helmet reconditioning and recertification mean, how often helmets need it, when helmets expire, and how to read the stickers.
• How Much Does a Football Helmet Cost?
  Real football helmet prices: used and new Riddell SpeedFlex, Schutt F7 and Riddell Speed, plus facemasks and chin straps, and what affects the price.
• How to Clean a Football Helmet
  How to clean a football helmet shell, facemask, pads and chin strap safely with mild soap and water, plus how to dry and store it.
• How to Put a Chin Strap on a Football Helmet
  Step-by-step: attach a 4-point chin strap to a football helmet, high vs. low mount, how tight it should be, and common mistakes to avoid.
• What Do the Stickers on Football Helmets Mean?
  Reward stickers, memorial decals, the green dot and the labels on the back: what the stickers on football helmets mean.