Steve Silverman is an award-winning writer, covering sports since 1980. Silverman authored The Minnesota Vikings: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Who's Better, Who's Best in Football -- The Top 60 Players of All-Time, among others, and placed in the Pro Football Writers of America awards three times. Silverman holds a Master of Science in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism.
Posted under:
Football TipsOverview
Adding tape to football cleats is done for two reasons. The first and most important reason is to provide support to the player's ankle. In organized football, players (or their trainers) regularly tape their feet and ankles for support. Taping the actual cleat to the ankle can provide even more support. Taping cleats is also done for style. This habit, known as "spatting," is regularly done by attention-seeking wide receivers.
Step 1
Tape your shoe and ankle in one continuous motion if you have had previous ankle or foot injuries or you are playing on a soft, muddy field. Ankles can easily roll and turn into a bad sprain if they are not supported well on this type of field. Tape the shoe and foot by starting at the top of the shoe and then alternating between shoe and ankle. Make sure the tape is tight before you cut away the residue.
Step 2
Use more tape if you have had previous injuries. Veteran players are used to the support that an ace bandage brings when wrapped under the sock and shoe. However, if you have had injuries, additional support will help a player feel confident that such an injury will not occur again. Wrap the tape that goes over the shoe very tightly so it does no interfere with a player's ability to run.
Step 3
Wrap the top of the shoe and the toes if you have had previous toe injuries. Tape on top of the shoe will provide another level of support and protection. It will not provide a great deal of protection, but it might be just enough to keep the toes from getting injured once again.
Step 4
Tape over the top of the shoe if you want to create a sharp, smart look. Wide receivers like to "spat," which means putting an extra layer of tape over the top of the shoe. If done with an intricate pattern, this can provide a very sharp look. However, it doesn't help the player run faster or provide more protection. This is done simply for the look and is almost always done by wide receivers and cornerbacks.
Step 5
Frequently change the tape over the top of the shoes when used on muddy fields. Even when the cleats are taped tightly, mud will get under the tape and erode the security provided by the tape. If you are an offensive player, check and change your tape when the defense is on the field, and vice-versa.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : Watch how your trainer tapes ankles to learn how you can do it quickly.
- WARNING : Never rely on tape outside the cleat to provide full protection for your feet or ankle. It will help protect your feet, but not as much as taping before you put on your football cleats.
