Football Boots

Derek Mantey
KIN 630
12/01/05
 Vocabulary
 English to english
 Football = Soccer
 Boot = Shoe
 Stud = Cleat
 Pitch = Field
 The Beginning
 Forms of the game has been played for
2,500 years.
 Mostly as recreation for soldiers or as a
violent form of settling disputes.
 Modern Football era began in England,
1863, as a separation from Rugby.
 Eventually popularity brought it into the
international realm resulting in the FIFA
establishment in France, 1904.
 Quick Background
 The world’s most
popular sport!
 Object of the game is
to score the ball into
the opponents goal.
 The team with more
goals at the end of
allotted time wins.
Scoring Goals
 A player can score
using the body parts
used to propel the ball
during the course of
play; except for the
hands and arms.
 Primarily with the feet
due to higher velocity
and greater control
applied to the ball.
 Functional Masters
 Football boots must  Since a shoe that
serve 3 and ½ meets the highest
Masters: level of each criteria
 Performance doesn’t exist, there is
 Injury Prevention always a trade off.
 Comfort  This compromise is
 Aesthetics (the ½) seen through the
history of the boot.
 Football Boot History
 Boots reflected the
19th century fashions
and materials.
 Boot design met the
demands of the wet
and sometimes
snowy pitch
conditions seen in the
UK.
Football Boot History
 Early soccer was very
slow and not
spectator friendly
 500g shoe
 Very little change in
design until the mid
20th century!
 Football Boot History
 Early developments
in lighter construction
came from the even
earlier knowledge of
the stronger physical
properties of
Kangaroo leather
compared to Bovine
leather.
 Football Boot History
 By the first World Cup  The warmer weather
in 1930, advances in translated to cooler,
travel and lighter, and lower cut
telecommunications footwear in organized
allowed players and games.
fans to experience
the faster, and more  Recreational players
exciting, Latin and primarily played
Mediterranean forms barefoot
of football.
 Football Boot History
 For traction on the
pitch the earliest
players fixed metal
spikes to the bottom
of their shoes.
 This was quickly
disallowed due to
obvious safety
concerns.
Football Boot History
 Early studs were plugs
made from leather.
 Most popular stud
placement were two
on the heel and four
distally.
 Football Boot History
 1922 Adolf “Adi”  Maximum stud length
Dassler provides a and minimum tip
replaceable cleat diameter limits on
design to adjust to molded boots were
pitch conditions. set.
 By 1951, molded  Decreased injuries to
designs increases the both the wearer and
number of cleats up opposing players.
to 14 on each shoe.
Dangerous!!
 Today’s Boot
 Low cut leather or
synthetic upper
construction.
 Thin firm and flexible
outsole.
 Molded or screw-in
studs.
 Foam insock.
 Firm heel cup.
Cleat Systems
 Types include conical,
asymmetrical, bladed.
 Numbers range from
6 on screw-ins up to
12-14 on molded.
 Positioned to
distribute force, not
concentrated under
sensitive areas.
Cleat Systems
Cleat Systems
 Sizes range from up
to ¾ of an inch for
screw-ins.
 Molded cleats are no
longer than 3/8 of an
inch with minimum tip
diameters of ½ of an
inch.
 Today’s Boot
 Plethora of additional
features and
developments.
 Many differences
between
manufacturer’s;
always have
similarities.
 No rigorous scientific
investigation.
Adidas
 Predator Absolute
TRX FG.
 PowerPulse shoe
liner.
 Split Outsole.
 Traxion Cleat Design
 $200.00 Yikes!
 Nike
 Air Zoom Total 90 III
FG $185.00
 Zoom Air Unit.
 Structural Bars.
 Asymmetrical Lacing.
Nike
 Mercurial Vapor FG
 One-piece synthetic
upper.
 Peeva sockliner with
Poron insert.
 NikeFrame contoured
glass-filled nylon
plate (stability) and
Speedtract plate
(speed &
acceleration)
 Puma
 Cellerator Zero 5 GCi
FG $180.00
 Powerframe
 e+Cell
 External Heel
Counter
 Ground Control
 The Right Boot?
 Professionals and  The other 99% of
National teams staff footballers don’t have
podiatrists or that luxury.
pedorthists.  Must try on and find
 Athletes can practice room to jog and cut.
in several types of  Gambling on the right
boots before making shoe, if found
a decision. purchase duplicate
 Sponsorships decide. pairs.
Additional Questions??