Football worksheet
Football Fitting Worksheet
A printable football measurement worksheet for helmet, shoulder pads, gloves, and cleats — with instructions for taking each measurement correctly.
Press Ctrl+P (Cmd+P on a Mac) to print this worksheet or save it as a PDF. The site navigation and links are removed from the printed version automatically.
Measurement fields
How to take each measurement
Take these at home before you shop. Measurements recorded calmly are more accurate than ones taken in a shop with a restless child, and having them written down is what keeps a fitting from turning into an estimate.
- Head circumference
- Wrap a soft tape around the widest part of the head, about one inch above the eyebrows and above the ears. Keep the tape level all the way round. Measure with the hair as it will be on game day.
- Shoulder width
- Measure across the back from the outer edge of one shoulder to the outer edge of the other, with the player standing relaxed and arms at their sides.
- Chest
- Measure around the fullest part of the chest, under the arms, with the player breathing normally rather than holding a breath in.
- Hand length
- Measure from the base of the palm to the tip of the middle finger, with the hand flat and fingers extended.
- Palm width
- Measure across the palm at the widest point, just below the knuckles, excluding the thumb.
- Shoe size
- Use current athletic shoe size, then confirm with a foot-length measurement — heel against a wall, mark the longest toe, measure to the mark. Do both feet.
- League gear rules
- Write down what the league issues, what you must supply, any stud restrictions for cleats, and any mouthguard colour requirement.
Shopping checklist
Take head circumference before anything else
Of the measurements on this sheet, head circumference is the one that carries real consequences and the one most commonly guessed. Helmets cannot be sized by age — two ten-year-olds on the same team routinely measure into different helmet sizes — and a helmet chosen from an age bracket rather than a tape is a guess on the most safety-critical item your child will wear.
Take it with a soft tape, level, about an inch above the eyebrows and above the ears. Write it down in both inches and centimetres if you can, because different manufacturers publish charts in different units and converting in a shop under time pressure invites errors.
Call the league before you fill in the shopping column
Youth tackle football is unusual in that the two most expensive and most fit-critical items — helmet and shoulder pads — are very commonly issued by the programme rather than bought by families. Parents who shop first often buy equipment they did not need, in a size nobody verified, that the programme will not allow on the field anyway.
Use the league rules line on this sheet properly. Note what is issued, what must be returned at season end, whether there are stud restrictions for cleats, and whether the league mandates a mouthguard colour — several prohibit clear guards so officials can check compliance at a glance.
What this worksheet does not replace
This sheet organises your measurements; it does not replace the official chart for the exact model you are buying, and it certainly does not replace an in-person fitting for protective equipment. Helmet and shoulder pad fit should be verified by a coach, equipment manager, or certified fitter before contact.
Take the completed sheet with you rather than relying on memory. Measurements taken calmly at home are more accurate than measurements taken in a shop with a restless child, and having the numbers written down is what stops a fitting turning into an estimate.
Common questions
How do I print this worksheet?
Use your browser's print command — Ctrl+P on Windows or Cmd+P on a Mac — and either print directly or choose 'Save as PDF' as the destination. The page is styled so that site navigation and links are removed from the printed version.
Which measurement matters most for football?
Head circumference, by a distance. Helmets cannot be sized by age, and it is the measurement most often estimated rather than taken. Record it in both inches and centimetres so you can read any manufacturer's chart.
Should I buy gear before the league's equipment handout?
Only cleats, a mouthguard, and practice clothing. Wait on everything else until you know what the programme issues and whether the pants include integrated padding — otherwise duplicate purchases are likely.
Can I use these measurements for any brand?
The measurements transfer; the sizes do not. Every manufacturer publishes its own chart, and the same head circumference can fall into different labelled sizes across models. Take the numbers and read each brand's own chart.