Remember those years soccer players played the game with nothing but tapes around their feet? Interestingly, beach soccer players still do because boots are not allowed in their game.
Back then, they didn’t have to worry about how tight a boot should be. Today, that question adds to the problem of soccer players—little wonder elite players often go for custom-made pairs.
The feet of a soccer player are one of the major emblems of their career. A victory obtained on the playing field directly points to the footwork of a soccer player.
A soccer player’s feet are used for carrying out all the most important activities in soccer and because they come in different shapes and sizes, putting on an accurate size of soccer shoe matters a lot.
Soccer shoes add balance and confidence to a soccer player. A well-fitted soccer shoe allows soccer players to perform optimally on the field of play as their speed, traction, pattern of play, and overall stamina is amplified.
Soccer players must select and play in well-fitted soccer shoes for the best performance. Searching for a perfectly fitted soccer shoe could be tiresome sometimes especially for big-footed professional soccer players.
Not everybody can afford custom-made soccer shoes. You might be asking, what makes a soccer shoe the perfect size for a soccer player? Is it when it snugs tightly or when it is a little bit loose?
If you are among this category of people with similar problems, you are not alone. We have discussed extensively in this article, the best ways a soccer shoe should fit a soccer player when selecting a pair.
Quick Navigation
Are soccer shoes supposed to be tight?
Soccer shoes are supposed to be tight but not too tight to the point that you feel pain in some areas of your feet. Intense pain on your feet will make it hard for you to run or kick the ball effectively.
Perhaps you have seen a situation where a soccer player wants to kick the ball and the boots fly with the ball. That is what happens if you have a pair that is not tight enough.
Be it futsal, indoor soccer, association football, or street soccer, a soccer player needs the right size of shoes to match their feet, terrain, and pattern of play.
If a soccer shoe is too tight, it causes discomfort and distorts blood circulation to the feet. It can equally lead to constant pain and the development of blisters on the feet.
If a soccer shoe is too loose, it may make a soccer players’ feet glide around in the shoe, or cause them to lose stamina, it can also cause bruises. A soccer player can’t have full control of the ball while wearing loose shoes which will eventually cause inaccurate touches.
Putting on a snug soccer shoe with little breathable room is the best option to make as a soccer player. Your soccer shoes must be moderately tight, clasped to the feet for enhanced sensitivity to the ball.
How do you know if soccer cleats are too tight?
The first sign that soccer cleats are too tight is that it takes a long time to force your feet into them. Even when you succeed, your toes are either folded and unable to wiggle or you feel sharp pains in other areas after wearing them for a short time.
Wearing the wrong size of soccer shoes is one of the inevitable mistakes soccer players often make. Some soccer players often feel that they can use the wrong-sized soccer shoes for the duration of a soccer match with hopes that they will expand while being used.
This reasoning is erroneous and soccer players must not fall into this trap as they might sustain serious injuries that may eventually need surgery. To avoid these risks, a soccer player ought to know how to select and use the right-sized soccer shoes.
Below are some methods a soccer player can use to know if a soccer shoe is too tight.
- Feet constriction
If a soccer player purchases a soccer shoe and finds out that their toes are greatly compressed against the forefoot of the soccer shoe or their ankle is forced against the heel, it is usually a sign that all parts of their feet are constricted by the soccer shoe which makes it a wrong fit.
A soccer player should go for a soccer shoe that does not pressure the ankle against the heel. Must have extra space at the front of the soccer shoe to allow the toes from being pressed against it and there must be enough width at the forefoot for breathability and comfort.
- The rule of thumb
Another way a soccer player can determine if a soccer shoe is too tight is by applying the rule of thumb. This rule has proven to be helpful and has yielded positive results in so many instances.
If a soccer player has no thumb space between their toes and the top of the soccer shoe, it means the soccer shoe is too tight. Also, if there is more than a thumb space between their toes and the top of the soccer shoe, it means they are too big.
The best option is to go for a soccer shoe that has the smallest finger width space between the toe and the top of the soccer shoe. If the soccer players’ toes push against the upper part of the soccer shoe, it entails that they are too tight, so they must opt for a bigger size.
A soccer player is prone to developing severe foot conditions if he or she doesn’t desist from using wrongly-sized soccer shoes. Some of the risks associated with wearing tight soccer shoes are listed below.
- Foot pain
- Foot ulcer
- Corns
- Ingrown toenails
- Bunions
- Metatarsalgia
- Ankle sprains
- Calluses
- Hammertoes
Conclusion
Soccer players usually buy soccer shoes with the intent that these shoes should provide comfort and boost their confidence.
When these soccer shoes are too tight or loose for a soccer player, the sole purpose of purchasing the soccer shoes is defeated and will even cause the soccer player a lot of discomfort on the soccer pitch.
Soccer players, no matter the type of soccer they are actively engaged in, ought to prioritize the comfort of their feet.
They must always go for a snug, light-weighted soccer shoe that will allow for breathability and comfort for optimal performance.
Read more: How To Tighten Soccer Cleats?
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!