How do you select from an overwhelming range of brands, models, stud configurations and even colours?

There is no “ideal or correct or best” football boot. Selection has to be made with consideration to foot shape, playing surface and weather condition.

The purpose of a football boot is to provide traction thereby enhancing performance and reducing the risk of injury by slipping.

Traction is provided by the studs.

It is important to have good traction but there are times when it would be better to slip or fall over. If the traction is too good serious knee injuries occur.

MOULDED STUDS – disperse pressure over a wider area making them better for hard surfaces particularly with short or sparse grass (sounds familiar).

SCREW INS – provide the best traction. The fewer studs are subject to higher forces when playing. Interchangeable studs for different playing surfaces. (I have only met 1 professional in 20 years who changed the studs according to the playing surface).

CLEATS - referred to as blades (Blades however is a particular brand). A concentric type arrangement allows for pivoting but still provides good traction. The number of cleats allows for wider pressure distribution. THE BEST OPTION FOR CLUB PLAYERS PARTICULARY IN SSJSFA.

CLEATS / SCREW IN / MOULDED

Shock Absorption is provided by the midsole.

Most boots are designed for the lush playing fields of Europe and there are not many fields like that around here! So the traditional boot does not have any sort of midsole to provide shock absorption. Most have a rather pathetic soft foam sockliner. A few boots have a thin rather token midsole.

As the season progresses I see an increasing number of patients with shock related symptoms such as:

• shin splints,
• heel and arch pain (plantar fasciitis),
• Osgood Severs (heel pain in 9 to 14 year age group)
• Achilles problems
• shock can even aggravate back pain.

Blades brand are one of the few boots that have a very generous heel pad within the boot providing reasonable shock absorption.

Boots designed as “grass trainers” are designed like a X-trainer having a reasonable midsole with a football boot type upper – see diagram below.

White layer is the midsole similar to Cross Trainers

Improve the Fit
The boot is the only “tool of the trade” and correct fit is important.

ADULT FEET . If you want feel for the ball they should be a snug fit with only millimeters longer than the longest toe which is often the 2 nd toe.

If you want a real snug fit, or a little concerned about them being too snug purchase leather boots as these will mould in to shape better than synthetics.

GROWING FEET . Feet usually stop growing at 15 years of age.

Kid’s feet don’t grow that fast that you should buy the boots to grow into. The season only goes for 7 months and there is no value in boots that finally fit at the end of the season. Buy boots that are no more than an adult thumbnail width longer. Buying boots for 2 seasons is unfair on the player hampering skills development as all their effort goes into keeping the boots on.

All the major brands have price point football boots so you can still get a cool boot at a reasonable price.

Nike have a range of boots with a 2 part removable heel liner to allow for growth – great idea and may provide a 2 season range.

Hand me downs are OK providing the studs are not worn down more on one side or the other and the upper has notdistorted.

WEARERS OF FOOT ORTHOSES. Some boots such as Adidas Predator do not accommodate orthoses as they have contoured surfaces. Many of the Nike range have fairly thick removable sockliners that permit better fit of full length sports orthoses – hopefully no-one is playing in rigid orthoses.

LACING BOOTS. I still like to see laces wrapped around and underneath the sole, but many of today’s boots come with such short laces it is not possible to do anything more than a bow . Over 4 years of Roo Ball coaching I have observed grey laces as always being the ones to come undone!

For players with narrow heels or wearing foot orthoses or just wanting a snug fit the Lace Lock method is helpful.

1 . Loop through the last 2 holes

2. Thread lace across to opposite loop

3. Pull lace firmly sidewayseliminating the loop

4. Tie up.

THE BEST BOOT FOR THE “MATURE” PLAYER

There is a growing range of football footwear based on the grass trainer concept. These have a good X-Trainer type midsole and a cleat sole. They feel a little different at first but you won’t change back. They almost should be compulsory for the O/35 player.

The Asics Lethal Pro is the best boot in this range. It is the top of the range but is technically superior. Asics have a number of shoes in this range including models for touch football. They are all quite good but the top of the range model is generally more stable and worth the extra .