The advent of low-cut football cleats by the Riddell Company in the 1950s brought about an increase in ankle injuries. In spite of the mastery of taping, ankle injuries remained a problem. Prior to the influx of one-piece, manufactured spats that cover the shoe laces and ankles, football players devised their own spats with the same tape used by trainers. Players continue to wrap their own spats to give them ankle and lower leg support. You can spat your football cleats using the same method players use.
Step 1
Pull two strips of 1 1/2-inch zinc oxide tape 24 inches long off the roll. The tape tears easily so there is no need for scissors. Tack the end of each strip to the edge of a table or bench at a convenient location within reach and let the strips hang there for now.
Step 2
Put your socks and football cleats on and tie the laces as you normally do. Pull the tops of your socks up as far as possible and fold the top of each sock down 2 inches.
Step 3
Wrap the individual 24-inch strips completely around each of your calves above the fold in your socks so the adhesive side of the tape is facing out. Overlap any excess tape onto the exposed portion of the adhesive. A single wrap of tape with the adhesive facing out is all that is necessary. Overlapping the tape and making this wrap thicker works as well. Pull your socks up and press the tops against the tape.
Step 4
Pull a short section of tape of the roll as a starter section. Begin the spat by making a continuous wrap that begins at the midpoint of the laces, continues under the sole of the shoe between the cleats and back over the top of the laces. Allow the tape to peel off the roll as you go and tear the end when the initial wrap is done. Make three additional wraps around the sole of the shoe and over the laces. Each of the wraps get progressively closer to the tongue of the shoe and covers the upper section of your laces. The last wrap should cover the tie in the laces. Wrap the laces in this way on both shoes.
Step 5
Start a new series of wraps at the base of your leg, just above the tongue of the shoe. Allow the tape to peel off the roll and make a continuous wrap from the base of your leg, along the outside of the shoe, around the heel and back to the base of your leg above the tongue of the shoe. Continue this same wrap down the outside of the shoe, under the sole and up the other side of the shoe to the starting point at the base of your leg.
Make the second ankle wrap starting at the base of your leg as before but bring the tape along the inside edge of your shoe, behind the heel and back to the starting point. Continue this wrap down the inside edge of the shoe, around the sole and back to the staring point at the base of your leg. Repeat these wraps on your other shoe.
Step 6
Make a continuous leg wrap that starts at the base of one leg above the tongue area of the shoe, and goes directly around your leg in additional wraps that get progressively higher on your sock. Terminate the leg wrap at a point that feels comfortable and provides the desired lower leg support.
Make a continuous leg wrap on your other leg and terminate it at the point where it feels comfortable and provides the desired lower leg support.
Tips and Warnings
- Wrapping spats can be done in a number of ways. Consult your team trainer or refer to a tutorial for additional spat suggestions. Select a color tape that coordinates with your team's colors.
Things You'll Need
- 1 1/2-inch zinc oxide tape
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