A front-lock stabilizer for protective shoulder pads having breastplates and backplates wherein the breastplates are closed by laced interdigitated plates fixedly secured to the vertical edges of the breastplates, and the backplates are closed by a plurality of rigid plates extending between the backplates and fixedly secured thereto. The breastplates are prevented from being deflected inwardly relative to each other to thereby prevent injury to the wearer's sternum, and the right and left shoulder pads are prevented from movement relative to each other in a vertical plane to prevent one shoulder from receiving the full impact of a hit to the shoulder.

A cervical collar attaches to a shoulder pad harness to reduce the size of the neck opening and to elevate the neck opening. The collar includes a pair of arched cantilevers which are connected by a small plate and padded around the edges defining the neck opening. The helmet contacts the edge of the neck opening in the collar to limit flexing of the neck such that excessive lateral cervical flexion and hyperextension of the neck are prevented.

The upper body protector comprises a semirigid integral upper body shield having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion and shoulder plate portions, adapted to conformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders, respectively. A pair of shoulder flaps are hingedly connected to the upper body shield so that the shoulder flaps are superposed over the shoulder portions, the shoulder flaps being movable laterally in an arcuate path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. A shoulder cap or epaulet is hingedly connected to each shoulder flap. Locking means is associated with the shoulder portions and the shoulder flaps for locking each shoulder flap in a fixed lowermost position so that the force of a downward impact on each shoulder flap is diffused, thereby reducing the force exerted on the wearer's shoulder. Also included is restraining means hingedly interconnecting the shoulder flaps to the shoulder portions for restraining the shoulder flaps and epaulets from pressuring the wearer's shoulder when a shoulder flap is in the uppermost position as a result of a lateral impact. A method of constructing same is also included.

The upper body protector comprises a semirigid integral upper body shield having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion and shoulder plate portions, adapted to comformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders, respectively. A pair of shoulder flaps are hingedly connected to the upper body shield so that the shoulder flaps are superposed over the shoulder portions, the shoulder flaps being movable laterally in an arcuate path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. A shoulder cap or epaulet is hingedly connected to each shoulder flap. Locking means is associated with the shoulder portions and the shoulder flaps for locking each shoulder flap in a fixed lowermost position so that the force of a downward impact on each shoulder flap is diffused, thereby reducing the force exerted on the wearer's shoulder. Also included is restraining means hingedly interconnecting the shoulder flaps to the shoulder portions for restraining the shoulder flaps and epaulets from pressuring the wearer's shoulder when a shoulder flap is in the uppermost position as a result of a lateral impact. A method of constructing same is also included.

A cantilever strap for a shoulder pad for a football player has a central portion which overlies the acromioclavicular area of the shoulder of the football player, and has a width which is substantially greater than two inches.