Football has a colorful history when it comes to the footwear worn by its athletes over generations. Football players have long understood that wearing shoes with cleats on them gave them much-needed traction that is essential when it comes to performing the job. Whether it's a running back who has to make a sharp cut or an offensive lineman who needs as much leverage as possible when blocking an onrushing defensive lineman, cleats or spikes have been essential to the game. However, one of the most colorful stories on the importance of using the correct footwear in NFL history involves a team that took their football cleats off and replaced them with gym shoes. In 1934, the N.Y. Giants hosted the undefeated Chicago Bears in the NFL championship game. The game, played at New York's Polo Grounds under frigid conditions, was a sloppy mess for the first half. The Giants were unable to run any of their plays successfully because their football cleats were unable to dig into the icy surface. As a result, Giant head coach Steve Owen had his team change into gym shoes and the results were dramatic. The Giants trailed 13-3 after three periods, but outscored the stunned Bears 27-0 in the 4th and pulled away for a 30-13 win. That game illuminated how important wearing the right footwear is in football success.
What to Look for
There are two factors to consider when preparing to put on football cleats. The first is the type of shoe and the second is the size of the cleat. There are high-top, mid-cut and low-cut shoes. High top shoes extend to the top of the ankle and provide extra support. They are excellent for linemen who need to move laterally. Mid-cut shoes are good for most running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks and wide receivers because they offer decent ankle protection while still allowing for maneuverability. Low-cut shoes are great for speedsters or specialty players like punt and kick returners who need to cut quickly and want lighter weight shoes. The size of the cleats used are largely a function of the surface on which the game is being played. Players wear longer cleats on grass fields and shorter studs on artificial turf field. Sometimes players will wear the shorter studs on frozen fields as well. The cleats can be interchanged by unscrewing them with a cleat wrench.
Common Pitfalls
The biggest issue that nearly every football player faces is changing conditions within a game. If a player starts a game on a dry grass field in dry conditions, he may be wearing the longer cleats to help get traction. However, if conditions turn cold in the middle of the game and the field freezes during the middle of the game, players must be quick to make adjustments. If not, injuries and poor play are often the result.
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