How to Choose Soccer Goalie Gloves

When trying to get your hands on a fast-moving ball, gloves are essential equipment.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soccer Apparel
• Soccer Cleats
• Soccer Goalkeeper's Gloves
• Soccer Goalkeeper's Shirts
• Soccer Shin Guards
• Soccer Videos
• soccer balls

1. Look at gloves a size or two bigger than your hands. A bigger surface area gives you a better chance of deflecting the ball.

2. Try on numerous pairs of gloves.

3. Inspect gloves carefully. They're not cheap so make sure they're put together well.

4. Make sure the velcro strap around your wrist fastens snugly.

5. Check the stitching carefully.

6. Wiggle your fingers around inside the gloves to determine if they are too big. You need to be able to move each individual finger without too much resistance from your other fingers.

7. Choose comfortable gloves because you're going to spend lots of time with them on.

Tips & Warnings

• Show preference for slightly sticky or tacky gloves as they make you more sure-handed. Plus, good gloves provide a mental edge.
• Gloves tend to wear out rather quickly, so a backup pair isn't a bad idea.

Who Can Help:

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[dljbelle]

on 3/28/2007 I think the advice to buy gloves that are two sizes too big is terrible advice. When the ball is kicked at me I want to be able to catch the ball. If the gloves are to big for you, when the ball hits you in the hands, the gloves are going to slid across your hand resulting in dropped balls. Make sure you get a high quality latex palm or equivalent on your glove. Fingersaves are great at preventing bent back fingers on deflections and such, but some drops may occur on hard kicked balls that hit you in the hands because they have a lot of extra loose material for breathability between the fingers (that connects the palm to the back of the glove). Because of this I use gloves that have the gun cut or wrapped fingers (same material on the side of the fingers as the palms). I'd rather have my fingers bent back every so often than a dropped ball.

on 8/8/2006 Always wash your gloves after every game or training session, but do not machine wash; as this causes the gloves to lose their tackiness! Wash them by hand with clean water and no soap. Let them air dry and they should be as good as new. If you let the dirt stay in them, the gloves also lose their tackiness.

on 8/8/2006 Fingersave is useful when trying to deflect the ball on dives that you cannot grab, but Fingersave isn't needed with all gloves. Puma makes an incredible glove that can grip the ball better than any Fingersave I've ever encountered, and their only half the price of the Adidas Khan model.

I suggest trying the gloves on in the store and asking to hold a ball with them. Judge to see if they're comfortable and non-restrictive and grip well. These are the main aspects in a glove. Only after you've found a good pair do you look for color and design.

on 7/6/2006 The main thing to look for in gloves is comfort and gripping power. Grip can be tested by running a ball or even your fingers across the palm, and feeling the degree of resistance provided. Individual keepers have their own preferences about what they most prefer in gloves, which is why I only buy gloves in person, never online. The ability to try them on and take a test catch or two is invaluable to me.

on 6/30/2006 Fingersave is useful when trying to deflect the ball on dives that you cannot grab, but Fingersave isn't needed with all gloves. Puma makes an incredible glove that can grip the ball better than any Fingersave I've ever encountered, and they're only half the price of the Adidas Khan model.

I suggest trying the gloves on in the store and asking to hold a ball with them. Judge to see if they're comfortable, non-restrictive and grip well. These are the main aspects in a glove. Only after you have found a good pair do you look for color and design.