[oldandtired]

Using protective gear (as in the kinds used in American football) is more detrimental to player safety than not using it. This was discussed back 40 or so years ago.

It allows you to hit harder and as a consequence bringing to play far more momentum and far more danger to the recipient.

Try this in something like the various Rugby forms or proper football (soccer) and the impacts are far less intense.

Certainly, increase protection for certain fields is highly desirable, but not for any form of football or other kinds of contact sports.