Plastics take the lead in sports safety and performance

Much of modern plastics sports gear actually evolved as the various sports evolved, as athletes made significant efforts to improve their performance, which increased the risk of injuries. Football safety gear continued to evolve as the players got bigger, the hits got harder, and the football community focused more intensely on preventing concussions. Race car fatalities declined as the cars became faster with the introduction of lighter weight carbon fiber-reinforced plastic chassis that improve driver protection. Some other risky new sports evolved as new technologies made possible by plastics were developed. Pro football jerseys usually are made from nylon or polyester with spandex side panels. Slick plastics swimsuits reduced friction and drag to give swimmers a bit of an edge.