Abstract: A shoulder pad construction in which outer plastic shells are held off of the shoulders by rigid underlying arches so that the pad is supported entirely on the chest and back rather than on the shoulders. The opposite ends of the arches are secured to the breast plates and back plates of the shells. Padding for the shells has thick front and back portions which contact the chest and upper back. Bridge portions of the padding are much thinner to avoid impacting the acromio-clavicular joints and are cut back away from the trapezius muscles at the base of the neck to avoid applying pressure to the brachial plexus. Forces applied to the shoulder pad are partially absorbed by the shells and are transmitted to the thick padding areas and to the chest and back without applying pressure to the shoulder or to the acromio-clavicular joints or trapezius muscles.