Football helmets aren't just another piece of gear — they're vital for player safety. Improper storage can lead to damage, reducing the helmet’s effectiveness and risking player injury. Suitable football helmet storage is essential for organizing and safeguarding faceguards, facemasks, chinstraps, and repair parts. The right equipment room storage solutions protect equipment from damage and loss while promoting convenience and productivity.
No matter your players' age or ability, when developing a championship football program, your focus should be building and training athletes — not searching for supplies, uniforms, and equipment. Effective football helmet storage is particularly crucial for efficiency and player safety. Secure, durable storage systems ensure that coaches, staff, and players can access the supplies they need safely and efficiently.
Solutions: Static & High-Density Shelving
Static Shelving
Static shelving is a traditional, fixed shelving system. It’s durable and reliable, although the fixed aisles require more floor space than high-density solutions.
Static solutions commonly include one or more types of metal shelving, and you can request custom end panels to coordinate with your building’s interior design or team colors. Static shelving is straightforward and typically more affordable, making it a practical choice for many teams.
High-Density Shelving
High-density shelving is a mobile system that maximizes space by reducing the number of fixed aisles. Fewer fixed aisles mean more available space. The mobile storage rack creates one or more moveable aisles instead, typically saving up to 50% of your floor space. High-density shelving offers greater space efficiency, making it an ideal solution for teams with a limited footprint.
Both solutions store football helmets equally well, but one may work better for you than the other. Factors to consider include space, availability, budget, and your specific storage needs.
Success Story: Kennesaw Mountain High School
Kennesaw Mountain High School supports a robust football program, running 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade, as well as 9th-grade junior varsity and varsity teams – all in one location. The equipment room measured approximately 356 square feet and was packed with football helmets and other equipment for all five teams. Helmets could be found either piled up on a table or hanging from wall hooks, and other items were haphazardly strewn about the space.
The solution included a row of static shelves and a pair of long mobile units to create moveable aisles, providing a space for everything, including football helmets. Against one wall, Patterson Pope installed a single 22-foot row of static shelving to anchor the system. To that, we added a pair of 16-foot-long mobile units to create movable aisles. We then installed adjustable shelving to create item-specific storage compartments and cubbies.
"Just as you've got to have a great game plan for a Friday night tilt, it’s pretty much the same in your equipment room,” explained the varsity head football coach. The football booster club president added, “We’re able to get the right equipment to the right player so much more quickly and efficiently… Everyone’s been happy with the results.”
Success Story: Florida State University
Florida State University (FSU) has a storied football program known for its success, and that success comes with an extensive roster. A college team like FSU can have upwards of 130 players each season, significantly more than most professional clubs. This size roster means much more equipment to manage and many more players to keep safe.
Adding two high-density compact shelving systems significantly increased storage capacity and efficiency. FSU added a pair of 10-foot-high mechanical-assist high-density compact shelving systems and created individual player cubbies inside them.
In addition to the high-density systems, they added a pair of hip-high worktables with shallow drawers, creating a practical workspace for quick repairs to helmets, shoes, pads, and other equipment. The new system added 35% more storage, providing a new place to not only store but also repair football helmets.
From creatively tailoring the storage systems to precisely matching the Seminole team colors, this design’s success included practicality and visual appeal. “In college, the rosters are so much bigger. We’ve managed to get everything in here in such a way that it looks great, it’s organized, and it’s got a little pizzazz, too,” remarked the team’s equipment manager. “We’re going to be reaping the fruits of [Patterson Pope’s] efforts for many seasons to come.”
Football Helmets: The Last Line of Defense
Proper football helmet storage is vital for maintaining the integrity of helmets and protecting players in the long term. Both static and high-density solutions offer unique benefits. Static shelving provides simplicity and reliability, while high-density shelving offers maximum space-saving efficiency.
Investing in football helmet storage solutions is essential for high school, university, and professional football teams, ensuring that players and staff can focus on what matters most — performing at their best. To learn more, contact a representative from Patterson Pope today.
