Sports helmet having slotted padding for receiving the ears of a user

A sports helmet configured for protecting a user's head. The helmet includes a shell and a padding assembly. The shell includes first and second side panels sized to generally cover the ears of the user. The shell and the first and second side panels have an inner surface. The padding assembly is coupled to the inner surface, and includes first and second pad sub-assemblies extending over at least a portion of the inner surface of the first and second side panels, respectively. The first and second pad sub-assemblies include first and second slots, respectively. Each of the first and second slots upwardly extends from a lower edge of the first and second pad sub-assemblies. Each of the first and second slots is sized to receive the user's ears and to facilitate the placement and removal of the helmet onto, and from, the user's head.