If you’ve ever tuned into a soccer match in the winter, you’ve probably noticed that a number of the outfield players are wearing gloves.
But what’s the reason for this? And are they even allowed to wear gloves as part of their uniforms? Let’s find out.
Are soccer players allowed to wear gloves?
Yes, soccer players are allowed to wear gloves. The laws of the game stipulate that the gloves should be a similar color to their team’s kits, so they don’t clash with the jerseys worn by the opposition. The main reason why soccer players wear gloves is to keep their hands warm during a match, but goalkeepers wear gloves for different reasons, as we explain below.
What are the main reasons that soccer players wear gloves?
If an outfield soccer player is wearing gloves in a match, he or she is doing so to protect themselves from the cold. After all, soccer matches are played throughout the winter in cold weather, and some players don’t deal particularly well with low temperatures.
Even though soccer players spend large parts of the match running and sprinting, their hands still undoubtedly get cold when the weather is particularly bad. You find that players from warmer countries nearly always wear gloves, but players who are used to the cold are more likely to brave the cold weather!
Some coaches don’t let their players wear gloves on the field, as they see it as a sign that they’re not working hard enough! This is particularly the case in amateur soccer, but it’s not so common in the professional game in the modern-day.
Which gloves are ideal for soccer players?
The best gloves for soccer players are those made from cotton or wool. Remember, their primary job is to keep a player’s hands warm, and they’re not needed for any other purpose in the game, as soccer players can’t use their hands (other than for throw-ins).
It’s best to pick a pair of gloves that are the same color as your soccer jersey, as the referee may make you take them off if they clash with the opposition’s jerseys.
However, this rule isn’t often enforced, and you will find that you can get away with wearing black or dark-colored gloves in most instances. Still, it’s better to be aware of it just in case you’re surprised if the referee tells you to remove your gloves!
What are soccer goalie gloves?
Goalie gloves are very different from the gloves that outfield soccer players typically wear to protect themselves from the cold. Goalkeepers wear gloves for the following reasons:
- To protect the palms of their hands from the ball.
- To provide them with more grip to make it easier to catch the soccer ball.
- To protect their fingers from bending back when they tip the ball past the post.
Goalie gloves are much bigger than standard gloves and are often made from rubber and latex, which strikes the right balance between comfort and performance. Although goalie gloves do keep a goalkeeper’s hands warm, it’s not the main reason why they wear them.
If you’ve decided that playing in goal is the ideal soccer position for you, you will need to invest in a pair of goalie gloves, as wearing a standard cotton or wool pair of gloves won’t offer you the protection and grip you need to play the position properly.
Do goalies have to wear gloves?
There’s nothing written in the laws of the game that say that goalies have to wear gloves. However, there’s no reason why goalkeepers shouldn’t wear gloves, as doing so makes things a lot easier (and safer) for them.
If a goalie chooses not to wear gloves, they’re only likely to make it more difficult to make saves and catch the ball as and when required. The good news for goalkeepers is that there are so many different designs and materials to choose from that every goalie should be able to find some gloves that are a good fit.
So, while goalie gloves are not required as per the laws of the game, they’re an essential part of the game for 99% of soccer goalies!
When did soccer goalies start wearing gloves?
Soccer goalie gloves were first introduced in 1945 when Argentinian goalkeeper Amadeo Carrizo wore them in a competitive match for the first time. However, sixty years earlier, a man by the name of William Sykes had manufactured the first known goalie gloves.
After the end of the Second World War and as soccer resumed, goalie gloves became part and parcel of the game and were worn by goalkeepers all around the world, although some goalies still refused to wear them.
However, by the 1960s, almost all goalies wore some form of gloves to protect their hands, and Gordon Banks famously wore goalie gloves when he lifted the World Cup for England in 1966.
Don’t forget, soccer balls were a lot heavier back in the day, and it would have certainly been a lot more painful for goalkeepers to save the ball with their hands! For this reason, it’s a little surprising that the trend took so long to catch on, and it’s crazy to think that the first instance of a goalie wearing gloves was as late as 1945.
Recap: Why do soccer players wear gloves?
Outfield soccer players wear gloves to protect their hands from the cold. Because outfield soccer players are only allowed to touch the ball with their hands from a throw-in, there is no other advantage to wearing gloves during a soccer game.
However, goalies are permitted to touch the ball with their hands in their eighteen-yard box. Therefore, the vast majority of goalies wear special goalie gloves, which protect their hands and provide them with a better grip for catching the ball.