the invention is directed to a football shoulder pad which includes a pair of rigid arches and a less rigid pad member associated with each rigid arch . each pad has opposite pockets which open toward each other , and terminal edges of the rigid arches are received in the pockets whereby the arches and the pad members can be readily assembled and disassembled . snap fasteners or the like are utilized to hold the arches and associated pads assembled while facilitating the ease of release thereof .