McDavid Inc. said it applauded recent rule changes as it pertains to thigh guards and pads. The original NFHS football ruling stated that “when a hard surface was
present”, thigh pads had to be covered by 1/4″ of foam on front and 3/8″
on back.

Now, the NFHS has changed the rules saying the detailed
specifications for thigh guards were deleted because they were not
necessarily applicable to newer technologies. McDavid said its HexPad
Technology is representative of such new technology driving the
evolution of what sports equipment have gone through in recent years in
order to provide athletes with lightweight and breathable protective
padding to increase overall performance.

“Our HexPad Thudd shorts have been met with some resistance from dealers
and coaches that said it did not meet the NFHS rules,” Rey Corpuz,
director of marketing for McDavid said. “That's why we launched the 7555
HexPad short with hard-shell thigh guard. After three years of working
with the NFHS on this rule, they finally made a change that removes the
gray area surrounding the previous verbiage of the rule. This will be
huge for our penetration in areas that resisted the evolution of
products through technological innovation.”

“It will allow us to look at protection
issues and think progressively as opposed to dismissing innovations due
to current rules,” Doug Wisner, marketing product manager for McDavid
said. “We expect dealers and coaches to gravitate towards the Thudd
Short as it provides protection without restriction of movement and
conforms better to the thigh allowing players a better range of
movement.”

McDavid will continue to provide both the
HexPad Thudd shorts and the 7555 HexPad short, but now athletes will
have a choice of which to wear on the field.  The HexPad technology will
continue to set the standard for changes in the game, from increasing
player performance, to influencing the way rules are written.

The
traditional Thigh Guard Shorts offers similar protection to the Thudd
Short.  This style of protection has been on the market for a long time
and may be chosen by players who do not find themselves in position to
be tackled.  The protection is on the same scale as the Thudd short and
in a style many players have been used to wearing for their playing
careers.

Skill players will take advantage of the
HexPads that will help them retain their speed and agility while lineman
may like the fact that they do not have to rely on the curvature of the
traditional thigh guard; in essence, turning to the HexPad for a better
fit and better protection.

“Every position has certain
protection needs and for positions such as running back, full back, and
linebacker where hits come from all different directions, the Extended
Thigh option provides protection where a standard hard thigh guard
cannot,” said Wisner, “Other skill positions such as WR or DB, where
speed is extremely important, the flexibility and body conformation
creates a sleek style and allows for easy movement.  A player receives
the same protection on the Thudd short that their hip and tailbone
currently receive.”

“Due to the design and construction
of the Thudd shorts, the padding is pliable and conforms to the
curvature of a player's thigh.  This allows a player better movement
and ensures the protection wraps around the thigh opposed to laying on
top of the thigh,” said Wisner. “Since the Thudd incorporates HexPad
which we use to protect shoulder, ribs, spine, tailbone, and hips, the
athlete's thighs will be protected as well if not better (due to the
larger design and wrap option) as the traditional Thigh Guard Short.”