How to spat your football cleats

Learn how to get a killer clean shoe spat so you can feel tight and look great!

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Desired color spat tape
• Football Cleats
• Pre-wrap (optional)

1. 
    

   Step 1
   Start with the foot at 90 degrees. Ordinarily we'd be spatting over cleats, but we didn't have any in the training room when I prepared this presentation.

2. 
    

   Step 2
   This step is optional, but if you plan on keeping your shoes nice and/or spatting all season, prewrap will help. Start at the laces and go toward the arch, under the shoe, then back to where you started. Continue on around the back of the calf/achilles, then back where you started again. That is one figure 8. Repeat until you have at least 2-3 figure 8's, and don't worry if it wrinkles or rolls up...you don't have to worry about blisters from that because the athlete's skin is already fully protected.

3. 
    

   Step 3
   Now the fun begins. I have colored the sides of the tape to help you see how it goes on correctly. Your first step here is to complete at least three figure 8's, just like you did with the prewrap, except this time use cloth athletic tape. Elastic tape may also be used, or team colored tapes will give you a cool look, too. 1 1/2" is used here, but 2" is better for larger shoes. Start at the laces, then pull your tape down through the arch as shown. Wrap around the bottom of the foot back to where you started. You have completed the bottom half of one figure 8.

4. 
    

   Step 4
   Next, direct your tape toward the achilles as shown and loop back around the leg, finishing where you started. You have just completed one figure 8.

5. 
    

   Step 5
   Below you see the start of a third figure 8. Notice how each additional figure 8 overlaps the one before it by about half. In other words, don't just tape right back over the same spot with your second and third figure 8.

6. 
    

   Step 6
   Here you see the completed three figure 8's. Now let's start closing this puppy up!

7. 
    

   Step 7
   Apply the first of a series of horseshoe strips around the back of the shoe. I like to start as low as possible on the shoe (don't tape over the air sole or shock or whatever if they have it...the tape will come loose) with the first strip, starting on the inside part of the foot (medial), around the back to the outside (lateral) part. Make sure your tape starts stuck to the tape already on the shoe from your figure 8's (not prewrap) and ends on tape on the other side. Pull tight...these strips will snug the shoe significantly.

8. 
    

   Step 8
   You can see here, I have added 3-4 more horseshoe strips from the inside, around the back, to the outside, working my way up the shoe, overlapping by half as I go up. We're over halfway done!

9. 
    

   Step 9
   Here you can see that I have finished up the second layer of horseshoe strips. For the second layer, start near the top of the ankle and work your way down. Alternating your placement like this strengthens the job and helps prevent splitting in the back. We're almost finished...

10. 
     

    Step 10
    Now lay down a couple more figure 8's nice and tight to cover up all the loose ends from the horseshoe strips. This should also clean your tape job up and make it look good. Finish at the laces or the lower leg. Apply one or two strips around the top of the tape job at the lower leg to close it off and make it look nice and clean.

11. 
     

    Step 11
    There you have it...a spat job pretty enough for even the pickiest prima donna DB, QB, RB, or wideout, let alone a big nasty in the trenches. Keep in mind ordinarily it would look solid white (no black lines), so it would be wrinkle free, fresh, and clean! Enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Have fun with different colored spat tapes, mix and match according to your uniform color.
• When wrapping the tape around your ankle and foot be sure to wrap it tight enough where you feel comfortable but not too tight where you can't feel anything.
• Get creative and spat with a different color for lining.
• Warning: This is strictly for looks. In no way is spatting a preventative method to guarantee ankle or foot injury. Be sure before spatting your cleats make sure that your ankles are professionally taped by your trainer.

[luv2blog]

on 8/26/2008 Very descriptive. Pictures really a great addition. Thanks for a 5 star article. Well done!