If you are a fan of soccer, you must have noticed that soccer players usually wear socks that go above the knee. We hear the question ‘Why are soccer socks so long’ a lot from both fans and budding players.
There are so many reasons why soccer socks are so long. From keeping the players warm to covering their legs so that they don’t get turf burns when they slide on the pitch, Law 4 of the Laws of the Game mandates that soccer players must wear socks that cover their shin guards properly.
Well, not every soccer player fancies long socks that go above the ankle. Some players say it causes discomfort during sprinting. Others say it takes a lot of hard work to keep soccer socks above the knee.
Trying too hard will cause you to lose focus of the game. Rolling down the socks, for them, eliminates the need to keep worrying about the position of the socks.
In the past, shin guards were usually very long. It starts close to the ankle and extends close to the knee. So, players had to obey the law of the game and pull up their socks to properly cover the shin guards.
Lately, shin guard manufacturers are making smaller sizes of shin guards that rarely cover the shin of very tall players. While wearing short shin guards, soccer players can roll down their socks without breaking any rules.
If you are already considering rolling down your socks, you need to do it properly so that it doesn’t slide down all the time. We will tell you how to roll down your soccer socks the right way.
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How to roll down your soccer socks?
Fashion is dynamic in the sense that it is constantly changing. What is considered a nerdy fashion in one decade may turn out to be the trend in the next.
Our research shows that in the 1980s and 90s, rolling down socks was the trend and it endeared soccer players to brands. Those that wore their socks all the way up were called nerds. Crazy, right?
The table has turned several times and we are now back to the point where rolling down socks is becoming a trend. The only difference is that the practice is now backed by performance-related explanations.
Rolling down soccer socks makes them tighter, and they can grip the shin guard better, thereby keeping them in position—and saving you a few bucks that would have been spent on tapes. For a professional soccer player, the financial implication may be negligible, but for an amateur in a third-world country, it means a lot.
This eliminates the need to use tapes to hold the shin guards—which some soccer players say is both restrictive and sometimes feels like it is cutting circulation.
Also, there is the problem of athletic tapes getting wet from sweat and losing their adhesion. So, some soccer players find themselves replacing the tapes every now and then within the game. Here are the popular ways to roll down your soccer socks.
Shin guard tuck in
As the name suggests, this roll down technique ends with tucking in the socks above the shin pads. The main advantage of this technique is that it helps to keep the shin guards in place.
Also, since the shin guards are well covered, you will not be breaking any rules which means you can wear your socks this way for competitive games without being cautioned by the referee.
Jack Grealish is one of the professional soccer players that is famous for wearing his socks this way. The steps for achieving this roll down technique are outlined below.
- Step 1
Wear your Trusox or any other socks with a grip pad under the foot.
- Step 2
Wear the official soccer socks that you have cut into a sleeveless tube over your Trusox and pull it all the way up. We discussed how to cut soccer socks here.
- Step 3
Hold your official soccer socks by the top and fold them downward, almost 80% over the shin guard. If you do it properly, there should be two layers of your official soccer socks over your shin guard.
Some soccer players will stop at this point—and that is definitely another way to roll down the soccer socks that you may consider.
Note: while folding the socks, make sure the top fold doesn’t go below the top of the shin guard.
- Step 4
Grab the top of your official soccer socks which should now be close to the bottom and pull it up until it is about 1 or 2 inches above the shin guard.
- Step 5
Tuck in the top of the socks over the shin guard.
Crease method of soccer socks roll down
Some soccer players wear their socks in such a way that it has tiny creases running through the length. This technique of rolling down socks is most suitable for those that don’t want their socks to be too long or too short either but somewhere in between.
While this technique is most popular with the football player Odell Beckham, we have seen a few soccer players roll down their socks this way too. While football players accomplish this technique using 3 socks, soccer players can achieve the same feat using 2 socks.
You can achieve this roll down technique using the following easy steps below.
- Step 1
Wear your Trusox or any other socks with a grip pad.
- Step 2
Wear your official soccer socks cut into a sleeveless tube on top. Pull it up all the way to above your knee or to its limit.
- Step 3
Using your index finger and your thumb, pinch the socks on both sides and drag them down by just 1 or 2 centimeters to create the crease. Start from just above the shin guards and work your way to the top.
- Step 4
Continue pinching and dragging down until the length of the socks is covered with crease patterns or until you get your desired length.
Unlike the tuck-in method, this method will not hold the shin pads in place and you may need athletic tapes or shin guard sleeves to hold them in place.
Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The tube method
This is a technique that you will rarely see in modern soccer. Nevertheless, it is still a valid way of rolling down your soccer socks.
- Step 1
Wear your Trusox or any other socks with a grip pad.
- Step 2
Wear the official soccer socks that you have cut into a sleeveless tube over the Trusox. Pull it up until it gets to the limit.
- Step 3
Place your palm at the top of your official soccer socks and start kneading or rolling into a tube. The tube will get bigger as you roll down.
It is up to you to decide when to stop. However, if you stop rolling just above the shin guard, the big tube that must have formed up to this point would be enough to hold the shin guards from moving around.
Conclusion
While some soccer players prefer their socks to be above the knee, others think rolled-down socks give more comfort. Likewise, if you go with the roll down appearance, there are several ways you can do it without going against the rules of the game.
It is still unclear why some soccer players tend to roll down their soccer socks considering the fact that the practice increases their injury risk. For example, they can get turf burns when they slide on artificial turf.
Also, rolling down the socks will force the player to also push down their shin guards or use smaller ones to avoid getting in trouble with the match officials. This exposes a larger part of their shin to injuries.
Well, different people have different motives for their actions. For Jack Grealish, it is a childhood practice that he doesn’t intend to quit anytime soon.
We have one piece of advice for all soccer players. Before jumping on any trend, make sure it will not increase your injury risks which will jeopardize your career.
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!