Athletic Gear and Equipment: Football / Soccer

Football (called soccer in some regions, especially the USA) is the world's most popular team sport, fondly called "the beautiful game". The object of this sport is to pass around the football using the feet and head (never the hands!) and scoring a goal. Each team is allowed ten players on the field plus the goalkeeper, who defends the goal, for a total of eleven.

The world's center stage for football is the World Cup. In reality, there are several "world cups" (e.g. Cricket World Cup), but the football world cup (officially the FIFA World Cup) is extremely popular that it is referred to as the World Cup. The World Cup is held every four years and is the most-watched sports competition on Earth.

The most important piece of football equipment is the ball itself. Standard soccer balls have a circumference of 27-28 inches and a weight of 410-450 grams. Most footballs today are made of 12 pentagon and 20 hexagon panels of waterproofed leather or plastic. These panels are stitched together; quality control assures that no stitches have been missed prior to shipping. Footballs brandish a wide variety of colors, but the most popular of all is the black pentagon / white hexagon pattern.

Football players' uniforms usually incorporate the colors of the club or nation, as well as the corporate sponsor. The uniform consists of the jersey and the shorts. Jerseys are often used in casual attire, due to their popularity and "simple, sleek shirt" appearance. Football shorts, on the other hand, are designed for comfort and durability, able to serve athletes for many games. Shorts can be knit or woven.

Because football involves a lot of kicking, the athletes' legs need protection. This comes in the form of socks and shin guards. Football socks are available in a wide array of colors, with stripes as popular designs. Socks usually reach up to just below the knee. Shin guards, on the other hand, are strong enough to absorb the impact of hard kicks while still being lightweight. Shin guards work in unison to football socks, which hold the guards in their proper place. Shin guards use cloth or foam to protect the shin, and they are durable gear.

Goalkeepers have some pieces of football gear that are unique on any team. For example, the jerseys of goalkeepers differ in color from other team members', and they are usually long-sleeved. Shorts with extra padding and/or extra length have also been made with goalkeepers in mind. As an alternative to shorts, goalkeepers can also wear long pants.

The football / soccer equipment most unique to the goalkeeper is the glove, which comes in a variety of padding levels. Most modern gloves last a full football season of playing due to their durability.

Lastly, football shoes are designed for the sport, and are often called "cleats" (like the ones used in baseball or American football). Cleats are made with the playing field (grass or dirt) in mind, and as such they have large studs on the bottom that grip the surface. This helps players from sliding and assists them when rapidly changing direction. Often, the stud itself is called a cleat. The most popular football / soccer shoe brands out there are Adidas, Lotto, Nike, and Puma.