About Soccer Goalie Gloves
Goalies are an integral part of soccer teams around the world, and the position is highly specialized. As a result, a goalie needs special equipment to perform at her peak, and the most essential pieces of this equipment is a pair of goalie gloves.
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Function
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The gloves of a goalkeeper serve one purpose, and that is to stop the ball from going into the net. Goalies are the only players on the soccer field allowed to use their hands, and the gloves are used to provide a bit more size and extra grip to the goalie's hands.
Goalie gloves also provide some protection from the other players' cleats.
Types
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Goalies often use different types of gloves depending on the weather, turf condition and other considerations. For example, "wet" gloves provide exceptional grip for handling slick balls in the rain or snow.
Most goalkeepers also have designated pairs of gloves for practice. The goalie will use older and cheaper gloves for practice, while his "game gloves" will be of higher quality and kept in better condition.
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Construction Materials
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Most goalie gloves are constructed of latex, as it allows for ultimate flexibility in the fingers and palms. The gloves are kept on with Velcro wraps that enclose the wrist completely. The wraps are meant to be ultra-tight so as to prevent an injury from another player's spikes or an especially hard shot.
Some goalkeeper gloves are equipped with "finger spines" in each of the fingers to prevent injury and provide stability for deflecting and saving shots.
Popular Brands
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As is the case with products for most major sports, Nike and Adidas produce some of the most popular goalkeeper gloves on the market today. However, Puma, Reusch and Uhlsport also occupy a significant portion of the glove market.
The price for a pair of gloves can range anywhere from $25 to over $200, depending on brand and quality. In the end, however, each keeper must find the pair of gloves that is most comfortable and gives the best performance.
Benefits
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The most obvious benefit of a good pair of goalkeeper gloves is better grip and, in turn, a better chance at keeping balls out of the net. Injury prevention is another important factor when selecting gloves as well, as the inclusion of finger spines can often be the difference between breaking a finger and staying healthy.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Eurosport Magazine
