Soccer players need to show remarkable strength, composure, and discipline to succeed in the game. Therefore, it is important that players wear the right gear and wear them properly.
One of the gears that soccer players often struggle to wear properly is their soccer cleats. Before the advent of soccer cleats without laces, soccer players struggled to keep their cleats tied.
Key Takeaways
- Using the right lacing technique will keep your soccer cleat tied to your feet through the entire 90 minutes of a match
- For extra support, you can fasten your laces by tying them underneath the arc of your cleats
- If you are struggling with keeping your soccer cleats tied, there are accessories that can help you out
As a soccer enthusiast, you must have witnessed an awkward scenario where a player tried to kick the ball but their cleats went flying with the ball. This is one of the major reasons why most professional players usually go for cleats without laces.
However, soccer cleats with laces allow you to customize how tightly the cleats will feel around your feet. You don’t get this luxury with laceless cleats. It is either it fits or it doesn’t.
No doubt, choosing the right pair of soccer cleats is a tough job—even for professional soccer players. However, knowing how to keep the laces tied is even tougher.
When your soccer cleat is adequately fastened to your feet, it ensures your stability on the pitch and also helps to prevent injuries. If you are one of the soccer players that bend often on the pitch to knot your cleats, consider changing your lacing technique.
Some lacing techniques are unreliable and will start to come undone the moment you kick the ball. Soccer requires focus and being cautious of your laces can rob you of that focus, and give your opponent the advantage.
Fortunately, we have compiled some effective techniques that will guarantee your soccer cleats will stay tied throughout your stay on the pitch.
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How to keep soccer cleats tied?
The issue of shoe laces coming undone by themselves after being tied isn’t just a unique problem for athletes alone. It is a general problem with most footwear that requires laces.
Scientific studies carried out by the University of California, Berkeley, reveal the common reason why our cleat’s laces come undone by themselves. They blamed it on the continuous swinging and stumping of the cleat on the ground.
This creates a force that is up to seven times stronger than the gravitational force. Laces when not secured properly can hardly stay locked in when such a force is exerted on them.
As kids, a good number of us were thought to tie our shoelaces in a particular manner, the most popular being the “crisscross and tuck” method.
Some of us usually stick to these old techniques mostly because we have gotten accustomed to them—old habits die hard, right? However, the problem with the crisscross technique is that they easily come undone.
Well, in most cases, simply changing your lacing technique can solve the problem. So, it is time for you to break free from your old habit and learn new lacing techniques from here.
The lacing technique that worked for your friend may not work for you because we all are unique individuals. Therefore, always feel free to experiment with different lacing techniques until you find the one that gets the job done.
While fastening your laces, make sure they are knotted in such a way that they can be easily loosened deliberately, and at the same time don’t come undone while playing.
Strong knots usually lie across the soccer cleat, at a right angle to the foot. Weak knots on the other hand tend to lie parallel to the foot. Adhering to these little details is what will help you to keep your soccer cleats tied.
Aside from the way you tie and lock your shoe laces, there are other behavioral changes that when practiced, can help keep your soccer cleats tied. For example, using shoe laces that are the right fit and size will help them remain tied while on the pitch.
Also, adequately managing the remaining length of the shoelaces after tying will help them not to come undone easily. We recommend wrapping and securely fastening them around your ankle or the middle of your cleats if they are too long.
Use Lifehack to keep laces tied
If you find it hard following some of the lacing techniques that we highlighted, you can make your life easier by relying on lifehack products. We will highlight the most effective products that will help you to get the job done.
1. Shoelace Clip
This product can securely hold your laces from coming undone on the pitch but you must enquire from the referee if such products are allowed. The downside of this product is that it can’t secure knots and laces above 10 mm in diameter.
2. Shoelace Band
Shoelace bands are made from high-quality silicon which makes them elastic and durable. These bands are designed to mold securely around your cleat’s laces to keep them in place while you play soccer.
They are suitable for both indoor and outdoor soccer cleats but must be worn in such a way that they don’t get in the way of the studs on the sole of your cleats or it may affect your stability.
3. Shoelace Anchors
This product is usually made from metal and uses the no-tie lacing technology to secure your cleat’s laces while you play soccer. Contact a referee before using this product.
It gives your cleat a stylish look and locks in your laces without tying knots on them. It works on all types of flat laces.
4. Lock Laces
The no-tie lacing technique has been in vogue for a while now. It can make any kind of sport cleat comfortable and increase the fit.
Things to consider when Lacing Cleats
There are certain things that if you put into consideration before lacing your shoes, they will hardly get undone by themselves. Some people might trivialize these points without knowing that they play vital roles in keeping soccer cleats tied.
1. Period of use
Due to the pressure put on soccer laces while playing, they usually wear out faster than the cleats. This is why they should be replaced as often as possible.
2. Lace material
When your soccer cleat laces get old, they usually require replacement. Getting the right replacement is often difficult if you aren’t sure of what you are looking for.
Waxed, nylon and Kevlar laces are usually not suitable for soccer cleats because they easily get undone while a player is on the pitch because of their slippery nature.
Light and slim cotton laces are mostly suitable for soccer cleats because they lock in tighter and offer more friction when in contact with the ball.
3. Length of lace
Soccer cleats don’t usually require very long or short laces. The average soccer shoe lace measures about 121 cm or 48 inches in length.
To avoid buying the wrong set of new laces, know the exact length of your old cleats. By having that information handy, you wouldn’t get confused by multiple options.
Before you leave
The major purpose of keeping soccer cleats tied is to keep them on the feet and prevent accidents during games. When laces come undone, it may fly off and hit another player as you swing your foot to take a shot.
Also, when the laces are loose and flying around, another player may step on them while you are running. This will most likely cause you to lose your balance and tumble to the ground.
It can also lead to the tearing of the eyelets and make it hard to use the soccer cleat anymore. Inasmuch as there are hundreds of ways to lace up a shoe, not all of them are suitable for soccer cleats because of the rigorous nature of the sport.
Aside from injuries, a carelessly tied shoelace can cost your team a victory. When players have full confidence in the integrity of their soccer cleats, they gain extra composure on the pitch.
Before looking for effective ways to keep your soccer cleats tied, make sure the laces are still strong to hold their ground. Always replace worn-out laces with similar laces of the same length, texture, and shape.
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!