in fig5 in another embodiment of the present invention as shown in fig1 the sports helmet 2 may further include a pair of chin strap extension ear loops 33 attached to and extending downwardly from slots 37 39 formed in the thickness of the lower edges of the helmet on each side 12 14 of the casing 4 each loop 33 comprises a flattened first free end 34 a flattened second free end 35 and a body 36 extending therebetween in the embodiment shown in fig3 the ear or chin strap extension loops 15 are preferably formed as a unitary piece of flexible plastic material such as polyethylene in this embodiment the ear loops or chin strap extension loops 33 are preferably formed from a three quarter inch u00be u2033 nylon strap or web whose center portion 36 is folded over transversely or rolled up about itself widthwise and sewn together leaving a rounded in transverse cross section center portion 36 and two axially opposite flattened first and second free ends 34 35 the flattened first and second free ends 34 and 35 of each loop 33 are received by and attach to first and second slots 37 and 39 respectively of the casing 4 on each side 12 14 the loops 33 can be attached to the casing 4 by a variety of methods including using an adhesive or sewing a portion of the first and second ends 34 35 to a surface of the casing or within the slots 37 39 these chin strap extension loops 33 can be interconnected by an adjustable chin strap 20 that is positioned under the athlete 39 s chin such as described previously with respect to the embodiments shown in fig3 and 7 as shown in fig2 the sports helmet 2.