The footwear worn by the player when playing soccer games; are soccer cleats. Like other equipment for games, soccer cleats are one of them.
They are the small pointed parts attached to the bottom of the shoes. These small protrusions are known as studs, which give protection from sliding.
More than 100 years of soccer cleats have been used in soccer games.
This article will give you everything you need about soccer cleats. Let’s start
Read | What are soccer cleats?
Need For Soccer Cleats:
Cleats, the external attachment on the sole, have many functions and are an integral part of sports. Moreover, they are considered a piece of essential equipment for an athlete. They are designed to perform the following functions:
- Cleats give traction and support; they help to prevent slippery movements.
- They are elastic in nature and firm in structure. They are made from different kinds of materials, such as leather, and synthetic, such as nylon and polyurethane.
- They speed up the athletes by securing the foot.
- The whole foot is protected in fastening movement, including the heel, forefoot, and ankle.
- It also indicates a specific direction, and cleats give you perfect pulling and pushing power.
- In this way, sportspeople have a good grip on the playing surface.
- They preserve the sole and protect you from injury due to falls.
Are Cleats Necessary for Soccer?
Soccer players wear cleats, but wearing them is only sometimes necessary.
It is an interesting fact! According to the soccer rules, wearing cleats in soccer games is not compulsory. Only some footwear is required but not mandatory to wear soccer cleats.
It means they can wear whatever shoes a player has for a soccer game.
The appearance of the Soccer Cleats:
There are lots of designs of soccer cleats available in the market. They are designed to wear on specific surface areas.
The players’ significant brands nowadays are Adidas, Nike, and Under Armour.
Hence the structure of soccer cleats is the same as any other close shoes. But have specific parts that consist of the following:
- The support of the Heel at the back.
- There is a collar around the ankle.
- Insole – Inner part for the safety of your feet
- Midsole – the sole part between the insole and outsole
- Outsole – the beneath of the shoes.
- Upper portion – covers the top of your foot and toes
- Studs -The firm protrusions on the bottom of the cleat.
How are the Soccer Cleats Different in Structure?
Soccer cleats are the same as other cleats, but only the difference occurs because of the studs’ distribution and their shape.
There are three types of studs of soccer cleats:
1. Hexagonal Studs:
- These studs are the best for soft grounds.
- They provide traction and more grip to the player for push movements.
2. Conical Studs:
- These studs are commonly used because they are the best option for wet and soft surface areas.
- They give more stability when the player needs quick movements.
3. Bladed Studs:
- These studs are for hard surfaces.
- They have multiple points to get more grip on the surface.
- These studs offer light movements without the danger of slipping.
So, it is important to choose the right type of studs.
Material of Soccer Cleats:
Soccer cleats are made up of different kinds of material. And the basic material includes the following:
- Rubber
- Leather
- Knit
- Rubber
Rubber is a synthetic material such as polyurethane and nylon. These material soccer cleats are used for wet and soft surfaces.
These are light in weight and less expensive. Such shoes have cleats with replaceable toe studs.
You can not use them for longer, but you can feel good and light after wearing them.
- Leather
The leather of the soccer cleats is the leather of the kangaroos. Such cleats have good water durability. These cleats are expensive but are suitable for every kind of ground.
- Knit
Knit is a newly introduced material in the market for soccer cleats. They look barefoot. A soccer player feels wearing no footwear as they are too light in weight.
These cleats are super comfortable but give less protection to the foot against the ball.
Types of Soccer Cleats:
Different types of soccer cleats are designed by different brands, depending on the surface ground type.
There are five major types of soccer cleats; these are the following:
- Hard Ground Cleats
These cleats are designed for completely dry grounds.
- Soft Ground Cleats
These cleats are designed for soft and muddy grounds.
- Firm Ground Cleats
These cleats are designed for grass surfaces that are natural, muddy, wet, and soft.
- Artificial Ground Cleats
These cleats are designed for artificial turfs.
- Multi-Ground Cleats
These cleats are designed for multiple different surfaces.
What is a Cleat Used For?
Cleats are the thin metal or rubber plates fixed on the shoe’s sole. Mostly they are on sports shoes to keep the player from slipping while running, pulling, and pushing for the ball.
They exist on all player’s shoes, but the difference occurs in size, shape, and material they constitute.
They offer basic protection, including injury because of falling. Wearing cleats and shoes gives grip over the playing area. And players have good power for pull, push, run, and whatever kind of play on the ground field.
So, clipped cleats on shoes mean you are safe to slip off, you feel light in weight, and they act like weight-bearing points and fasten your speed.
Firm ground Cleats
Firm ground cleats are helpful for natural surfaces on grass, mud, and wet fields. The cleats are well attached and more prominent in size to maintain balance. Also, provide grip and prevention from sliding.
There are studs on cleats that are not removable. That’s why some people consider the studs and cleats to be the same.
Sometimes the studs are metal parts linked with cleats, and they are not allowed in soccer for safety reasons.
Association football / UK football
In football games, soft and firm ground cleats are used. These cleats are designed for wet weather conditions. The frozen ground cleats remain strong on the natural surface. In the UK, cleats and studs have no distinction. The cleats are commonly called studs.
Australian football
After the invention of replaceable cleats, a great revolution took place in the industry of cleats shoes.
Molded cleats became famous because of their comfort. These cleats have excellent traction. And versatile for field conditions.
Sportspeople can wear them on artificial ground and grass fields. But they have an outstanding performance on grassland.
American football
In Australia, the cleats are known as “Stops”. These are replaceable stops with wood studs.
These are conical in shape and embedded on a leather strip. Like other cleats, they are also fixed to the sole by nails.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse cleats are similar to American football cleats. These cleats are linked on the edge of the foot sole—their benefit is stability and quickly changing direction.
There are standard toe cleats in front and below. These cleats allow fast running and quick pivot movement.
Baseball
In baseball, the cleats are also called spikes. These are rectangular and made of plastic, rubber, or metal.
These have good traction power on the muddy grass field. But there is some limitation to their use in sports.
Young baseball players use plastic and rubber cleats. In tournaments, metal cleats are prohibited.
Detachable Cleats
These cleats are removable and typically made of plastic, metal, and rubber. These cleats act as the individual part of your shoes. You can easily attach and detach them whenever you want.
Football studs
People go for removable cleats for playing on muddy and wet ground. These cleats are longer in size, and like regular cleats, they are also made of rubber and plastic material.
The increased length is to protect the player.
Golf Shoes
The golfers were them, and the metal and soft spike shoes were available. Some people love to wear metal spike cleat shoes, and some love to wear soft spikes golf shoes.
Cycling cleats
Cycle cleats are on cycling shoes and are attached to the sole to fix the pedal of the cycle. Therefore it protects a cyclist from falling, and pedaling remains smooth.
Logger boots (calks)
These boots are used for hiking and, in construction industries, for safety. The metal spikes are attached to the sole of these cork or timber boots.
Ice
There are variations in the cleats used for ice. These are spike cleats and attach under the sole of the shoes. The ice cleats are also known as crampons.
They are attached to the heel part and can be removed when the shoes are not used for ice. Their primary function is to make you safe from slipping.
Artificial ground Cleats
Artificial surfaces are manufactured areas where specific shoes are allowed to wear. These surfaces are made of wood, glass, plastic, and artificial turfs.
American football
For artificial surfaces, many molded cleats are suitable. These cleats provide stability, protection, and traction.
Baseball and softball
For these games, soft rubber or plastic cleats are suited.
Football turfs
Small studs of rubber material are the best for artificial football turf. They look like the extension of the sole and are durable.
Track spikes
These cleats are for running surfaces. The shoes have removable spikes. Such spikes offer incredible speed and traction. They have different sizes and shapes but are made of rubber.
Can you Walk with Cleats Shoes?
Typically these are used in the football game. But you can walk normally with your cleat shoes as they are not awkward. They are not like some discomfort materials, and cleats have rubber, metal, plastic, or wood.
You can wear them when you walk and run on the track. It protects you and prevents you from losing footing power. You feel lightweight, making you feel less tired after a workout.
So, you can use cleats shoes in real life too.
Can Cleats Hurt Your Anklet?
Cleats support your foot; some parts have maximum support, and at some point, there is the least support.
The ankle is the least supported part. The whole pressure is at this part, during running and sudden position changes. So, ankle pain may cause. Sometimes it can also result in leg fracture.
The use of Flexible and Light weight cleats shoes causes these problems.
Do You Wear Socks In Cleats?
Everyone has their opinion on whether you should wear a sock or not with cleats shoes. We can tell you both reasons, and whether you want to wear socks with cleats is up to you.
It is okay if you don’t wear socks with cleats because some people find it uncomfortable to wear socks.
And if you wear socks with your cleats showing, it is good for your performance. When you wear socks with shoes, it fits on your foot, and you have more grip over the ankle. And the ankle is protected from torsion.
Some people wear socks because of sweating issues. When you wear socks, perspiration remains controlled as it causes the smell. But it is natural, not an issue, and can be controlled by some strategies.
After knowing the importance of ankle torsion and the way of protection, many cleats with fit ankle collars are available in the market. Wearing these cleats makes you feel speedy, and you can change your movement swiftly without danger of injury.
There is various kind of collar cleats introduced by different brands. Before buying them, you consider the following factors:
- Fitting and Size of upper end
- Stability and flexibility of collar
- Material of the Cleats.
- Studs and grip on the pitch
- Budget for buying them
Do Cleats Make You Play Better?
Various studies are held to find this out. So, we know that the performance improved by selecting cleats according to the surface ground.
20% of performance depends on the cleats, and sports players give their best performance because of kicking perfection, flexibility, movement in the field, ability to run, and changing direction abruptly.
That is why don’t consider the whole performance depends on cleats. But the right selection of cleats makes your performance good.
What are the Advantages of Cleats Shoes?
Cleats are the extended cone shape structure on the sole and have many advantages we enlisted below:
- Cleats strengthen the shoes and find grip on the playing area.
- Save you from slippery movements.
- Make your speed fast.
- Secure the whole foot, ankle, and heel.
- Give movement in any direction and fast movement.
- Cleats are elastic and bear the ball’s pressure while running, pulling, and pushing.
- Make you feel lightweight and prevent injury.
Cleats can improve your athletic performance.
The cleat is on the athlete’s shoes; they are protrusion on the sole and perform the function of stability and grip on the surface area. In real life, they can also be used for walking and give maximum support to your shoes.
But sometimes, the shoes can hurt the ankle because of low protection. For ankle protection, ankle collar-fit cleats and shoes are available. These cleats offer ankle torsion. Therefore cleats shoes are better for your performance.
Final Words:
Soccer cleats are sports shoes worn by players. And cleats are the part of the shoe sole that gives protection from injury, stability from falling, and traction for movement. They are essential for a sports player. But soccer players can wear cleats shoes in the soccer game. In the market, they are in a greater variety and different materials. But the common materials are leather, rubber, plastic, and metal.
