Abstract: Protective shock absorbing athletic equipment is presented in the form of a shoulder pad having a plurality of hard shell portions and elongated bumper pads extending along peripheral edges of the shell portions. The shell portions are secured together at a spacing no greater than a predetermined distance so that an impacting object, such as a helmet, is prevented from intruding between the shell portions by the bumpers. Belts for securing the shoulder pad around the chest area of the wearer lift the shoulder portions off the wearer's shoulders so that a hit received on the shoulder portions is transferred to the chest area.