Since debuting in Rhode Island in 1995, the X Games have become a global phenomenon, drawing millions of TV viewers for “extreme sports” competitions such as skateboarding, motocross and BMX. From Tony Hawk landing the first 900 (a 2.5 revolution aerial spin on a skateboard), to Travis Pastrana nailing the first double back flip on a motorcycle, to Dave Mirra pulling off the first BMX double back flip, the coolest tricks often happen first at the X Games.

X Games 16 take place July 29 to August 1 in Los Angeles, California, featuring more death-defying stunts and record-breaking tricks—and plastics once again will play a critical role in the sports gear and safety equipment.

Helmets
No matter the sport in Los Angeles, all competitors will have one piece of equipment in common—a helmet.

Most helmets have a hard, crack-resistant outer shell, usually made from a tough plastic such as ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene). Helmet interiors contain plastic foam pads constructed from various plastics: EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), polyurethane, polystyrene or polypropylene. The plastic shell and foam are designed to mitigate the impact by spreading the blunt force of a crash over a greater area of the head, as well as to reduce friction in a slide.

Skateboarding helmets (“half shell”) tend to be heavier and cover more of the head than traditional bicycle helmets, providing protection from the top of the forehead to the base of the neck, as well as for the ears. BMX and motocross riders—who spend much of their time flying through the air—usually wear full-face helmets that wrap around the chin, sometimes made of carbon-reinforced plastic composites that provide significant strength while keeping the helmets relatively lightweight.

Skateboarding
The sport most synonymous with the X Games—skateboarding—likely originated in Southern California in the mid-20th century as a pastime for surfers when the waves were weak. Skateboarding began moving from counter-culture to mainstream with the introduction of polyurethane (plastic) wheels in the early 1970s. The resilient, lightweight polyurethane wheels provide a smooth ride on any surface, and polyurethane remains the predominate material used today in skateboard wheels.

Even some of the boards (called decks) are made from plastic. The banana board, a thin, flexible polypropylene deck, became popular in the mid 1970s as skateboards were becoming much more maneuverable, enabling skateboard pioneers to develop new tricks. The plastic composite carbon fiber-reinforced deck was introduced in 2004— manufacturers claim it can stand up better than traditional maple plywood decks to the daily abuse of skateboarding.

Motocross
In motocross, a sport where much time is spent airborne or careening around corners at high speeds on a motorcycle, reliable protection is paramount.

Most professional motocross competitors wear what equates to body armor. While the protection is heavy-duty, the plastic materials are light and flexible. A serious layer of pads and braces made of Kevlar® (a plastic fiber) or plastic composites helps protect riders in the event of a crash and helps to support vulnerable joints such as knees and ankles. And underneath all that plastic gear? More plastic: moisture-wicking nylon or polyester (both plastics) jerseys with mesh panels to keep the athletes cooler and dryer. Even some of the motocross bikes incorporate plastic composite frames and wheel forks, enabling them to maintain strength and durability while weighing less than traditional metal frames.

Congratulations to Spain, the 2010 FIFA World Cup winners, and thanks to everyone who entered our contest to win an official jersey from your favorite national team!

With more than 250 million players spanning the globe, soccer (or football as it’s known outside the U.S.) is without question the world’s most popular sport. It’s also one of the oldest – the game can be traced back to several ancient cultures, including “football” games more than 3,000 years ago in China.

Today’s die-hard soccer fans were eagerly awaiting “the kick-off heard ‘round the world” when the World Cup™ final competition began in Johannesburg, South Africa, on June 11.

Aside from superstars, red cards, penalty kicks and fake dives, fans saw… a lot of plastic. In fact, plastics play many important roles in the modern soccer game.

Protection
Shin guards are one of the few pieces of protective gear that players are allowed to wear on the soccer field. Players formerly relied on extra pairs of socks, shin guards with wooden slats or nothing at all, but today plastic shin guards rule the game. The latest innovation? Plastic guards that incorporate air cells to help protect players’ legs from errant cleats and soccer balls that reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

Gear
Modern plastics have transformed soccer uniforms and gloves.
Players and referees alike wear durable, tear- and fade-resistant uniforms that often are made from polyester (a plastic fiber). This year, the USA team and many other teams wore jerseys made from recycled plastic bottles – and fans also can purchase these jerseys.

And just imagine goalies attempting to block a screaming penalty shot without the innovative gloves that allow for a better grip on the ball, even when it’s wet and slippery. The palms of the gloves often are padded with latex foam that helps absorb the impact from the ball so that the goalie can hang on

Cleats (or Boots)
Without soccer cleats (or boots as they often are called), even the best player would have a tough time maintaining traction on the field. Plastic-based boots are water resistant, durable and easy to clean and care for. And today’s high-tech boots often are made from combinations of advanced plastics that can help improve performance while dramatically reducing weight. For example, adidas® recently introduced the F50 Adizero® , what it claims are the world’s lightest soccer boots, weighing in at a miserly 5.6 ounces. Inspired by cycle racing shoes, the boots’ ultra-light, plastic microfiber upper is attached to a thin, sleek plastic sole, doing away with the stiff, heavy insole of others boots.

The Ball
Even the soccer ball has gone high tech – and plastic. For example, adidas’ Jabulani®(named after the Zulu word for celebration) is made of plastic foam and panels plus a plastic cover that provide exceptional cushioning, durability and feel, to help players achieve maximum control.

The Field
High-tech, soft and durable plastic turf has enabled soccer players to play year-round, even in nasty weather. The most common synthetic turf used in international soccer play is a blend of grass-like, plastic fibers. This plastic turf can conserve water and requires less maintenance than grass. It also reduces irrigation runoff and eliminates green waste such as lawn clippings.

The Goal
Professional soccer goal netting often is constructed of high-tenacity polypropylene, similar to mountain climbing rope, that provides tremendous strength and lasts a very long time.

The Seats
Fans watched the action sitting on the “FRITZ dein Sitz,” a comfy seat cushion from BASF made with expanded polystyrene (plastic) foam. And get this — flip it over and it doubles as a beverage tray!

The Host Country
Ready to make some noise? 2010 was the year of the “vuvuzela” – a plastic horn that is hugely popular among South African soccer fans. Originally made from the kudu antelope horn, today’s plastic versions have become an emblem of hope and unity for many South Africans.

During March and April, people across the United States visited the Plastics Make it Possible^SM website and Facebook page to make donations to ADN and help inspire athletes with disabilities to become future Paralympians. Plastics Make it Possible^SM then matched dollar-for-dollar the $23,291 that was raised through corporate and private donations, for a total gift of $46,582 to ADN.

“We are thrilled to have raised money for an organization like Athletes with Disabilities Network to help inspire a whole new generation of athletes,” said Steve Russell, vice president, Plastics Division of the American Chemistry Council. “From carbon fiber technology used for shock absorption to custom-fitted sockets made from resilient polyethylene and polypropylene, plastics are a vital part of the innovative, active prostheses that are used by many disabled athletes in the sports they typically enjoy. This is a wonderful demonstration of how plastics are being used in innovative ways to help make people’s lives better.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 1.7 million amputees in the United States, many of whom rely on active and sports-grade prostheses to keep fit and stay healthy. These prostheses have been revolutionized by plastic materials that help make them stronger, lighter, and more flexible, and to function more like natural limbs. These high-tech prosthetic devices are being used by Paralympic athletes and by many non-competing amputees who want to continue to live an active lifestyle.

“We’ve seen firsthand how innovations in plastics used in active prostheses have helped athletes to not only overcome the trauma of limb loss, but flourish in competitive events like our own Extremity Games,” said Elizabeth Taylor, executive director of ADN. “The donations made through this program will help many athletes continue to compete in the sports they love.”

Established in 2009, ADN promotes a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities. ADN operates and organizes the Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame, the only Hall of Fame completely dedicated to honoring individuals with disabilities for sport and recreation achievement, and Extremity Games, an international extreme sports competition for athletes living with limb loss or limb difference.

About Plastics Make it Possible^SM
Plastics Make it Possible^SM highlights the many ways plastics inspire innovations that improve our lives, solve big problems and help us design a safer, more promising future. This initiative is sponsored by the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council. For more information, visit www.plasticsmakeitpossible.com, check out our Facebook page and follow us @plasticpossible on twitter at www.twitter.com/plasticpossible.

About Athletes with Disabilities Network
Established in 2009, Athletes with Disabilities Network (ADN) was formed by joining Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame (ADHOF) and Extremity Events Network, organizers of Extremity Games. ADN’s mission is to promote a better quality of life by creating opportunities for people with physical disabilities. Programs and services include the Athlete with Disabilities Hall of Fame, Extremity Games, Mentoring and Outreach, Adaptive Sports Coalition and Collegiate Scholarships. For more information, please call 248.475.3623 or visit www.athleteswithdisabilities.org.

From First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign to the CDC’s Verb initiative, kids are being urged to get off the couch and onto the sports field. Public health officials encourage parents to teach their children early the value of exercise and how it can help lead to a healthier life.

But before parents rush their kids onto the soccer field or the baseball diamond, they should stop and review the importance of safety gear. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, approximately 3 million children ages 14 and under are injured every year while playing sports or during recreational activities. That number can be reduced with the proper use of innovative safety gear, much of which is made possible by plastics.

Helmets are often the most important part of children’s safety gear. Although helmet designs vary widely based on the sport, they are typically made with a hard, crack-resistant outer shell of injection-molded plastic, such as ABS, and plastic foam pads – often polyurethanes – underneath. These materials are designed to spread the force of impact over a greater area of the head. Helmets need to fit correctly to really do their job – a child’s head should fit snugly, and the helmet shouldn’t wiggle much or move around.

To help protect against eye injuries, experts recommend protective eyewear made from polycarbonate, a lightweight plastic that stands up to blunt force and is shatter-resistant. Eye care professionals also can fit children with sports-friendly prescription eyewear.

And for many sports – skateboarding, soccer, field hockey, volleyball and more – kids should wear a combination of guards to protect their knees, wrists, elbows and shins. The strong plastics in this protective gear help avoid injuries by absorbing and deflecting the impact of a stray ball, accidental fall or collision with another athlete.

By making sure kids have the proper safety gear, parents can help reduce the risks of injuries and trips to the emergency room. Tell your kids: no gear, no game. And that should go for mom and dad, too.