protective equipment [1]
Because of the violent contact and frequency of falls, football players wear heavy protective equipment.
elbow pad 
Padded piece of equipment designed to protect the elbow.
neck pad 
Padded piece of equipment that protects the player’s neck.
tooth guard 
Device that protects the football player’s teeth; it fits between the cheeks and the teeth.
forearm pad 
Padded piece of equipment designed to protect the forearm.
protective cup 
Piece of equipment that consists of rigid molded plastic designed to cover a player’s genital organs.