Goalkeeping gloves are now a standard feature in soccer and, despite the fact that there is no rule that says they are required to wear at all times, goalkeepers who play in the top leagues can play without them.
This article will go deeper into the primary reasons goalkeepers wear gloves, as well to examine whether there are the official rules for goalie gloves exist.
So, let’s begin!
The primary reasons goalkeepers wear gloves is to safeguard their hands and to improve their control over the ball. Without gloves, there is a greater chance of injury and attackers could benefit from ball spills without any grip.
Now that we have that over we can take an extensive analysis of why goalkeepers insist on wearing gloves.
What are the most important reasons soccer goalies use gloves?
If you’ve ever played the position of goalkeeper on the field you’ll be aware of how useful a glove for goalkeepers are.
However in the event that you’ve not been the privilege of a goalie who can stop shots You might find it difficult to comprehend why gloves for goalkeepers are an integral part of the current game.
This article will inform you about the advantages that this piece of equipment offers its users.
Beginning at…
1. Essential wrist and hand protection against injuries
Professional soccer players are at a high speed and it is essential that goalkeepers have a basic protection against this intense element of soccer.
The speed of an average soccer ball is approximately the speed of 80 miles an hour and this number can increase for balls kicked by forward-facing players who are known for their massive force.
Therefore, it is essential that a goalie has gloves on to provide sufficient protection to their hands and their wrists.
Although a pair of gloves is an effective method of avoiding injuries to the hands goalkeepers still have the potential to sustain injuries due to the force that is generated by contact.
An example of this is the time when Nautico FC goalkeeper – Julio Cesar had his finger dislocated after he saved a shot by the team in opposition.
This shows that even with the correct method of saving, injuries could still occur. So think about the state the finger would be in if he didn’t wear any gloves.
Sometimes goalkeepers must take on shots coming from various angles and it is essential that they perform saves using the proper method.
When there’s the ball being hit from a cross or an established piece of play goalkeepers are more likely to kick out the ball rather than taking it in and this could cause more stress onto their hands.
Since most of the ball gets handled by the fingers that of the goalkeeper, it’s vital that gloves are fitted with an adequate padding to shield their fingers from injury or even fractures.
Goalkeeper gloves come with an elastomer padding on the fingers in order to reduce this risk by helping to absorb the force on the ball.
2. Better control of the ball
To achieve those perfect saves you can see during a soccer match goalkeepers require the right amount of control over the ball in order to hold it securely.
Grip occurs by the goalkeeper’s fingers being in a position to follow the ball’s shape and this is due to a substance known as latex.
It is a fundamentally polymer that is comparable to synthetic rubber. It is able to exhibit the properties of rubber, like elasticity and durability. The material is composed from thousands of holes coated on the surface that the palm.
After the impact of an incoming shot, the holes expand and the palm of the glove will form their shape to follow the contours of the ball.
The gloves create an suction effect, which creates the proper amount of friction that allows for a solid grip onto the ball.
Without proper gloves goalkeepers wouldn’t be able to develop the grip needed to grasp the ball. This could lead to more goal-decision mistakes.
In wet weather, this is more pronounced because it’s more difficult to create the grip required on surfaces that are slippery.
Thus, a goalkeeper who plays without gloves is probably similar to a child struggling to get a swollen balloon.
In a different vein Have you ever thought about the reason goalkeepers are prone to spitting on their gloves?
This action enhances the grip of the glove since saliva contains the needed moisture to give that extra grip on the glove’s latex.
You can learn more about this in the article that I linked to.
While the primary focus is in generating grip with gloves, goalkeepers’ catch technique is crucial in taking shots.
3. Warming hands
Another reason that is not as common why goalkeepers wear gloves would be to protect their hands from cold.
Since soccer matches take place in various weather conditions, goalkeepers could be affected in a variety of ways and this can affect their performance.
Being in the best shape to make saves is the perfect situation for goalkeepers. Having to be concerned about hands that are cold is a significant obstruction to their chance of saving.
When it comes to the requirement for goalkeepers to use gloves, it boils to personal preference since it’s not a necessity to put on gloves.
Are there any official goalkeeper gloves regulations in place?
According to FIFA’s rulesbook, there isn’t a rules or regulations that says that goalkeepers have to wear gloves.
The entire issue of mandatory goalkeeping equipment like gloves is a bit ambiguous and the final decision will be made by goalkeepers themselves.
Final thoughts
This brings me to the conclusion of this article!
Goalkeeper gloves are not just going to be around for soccer, but they also offer important health and performance benefits to the goalkeepers wearing the gloves in matches.
Menu