Why are soccer gloves important?

In the old days of soccer, you never saw a soccer player wearing gloves. The personal protective equipment consisted mainly of some type of protection for the head, shoulder pads and cleats. That was all they needed. That said, the game being played back then was very different from the game being played today. Today’s players are much bigger, stronger, faster, and generally more athletic. The players have evolved as the game has, and with that, the team has to evolve to compensate the players as well in order to keep them protected and performing the way they are expected to. Soccer gloves are one of the things that have been introduced in certain positions of the game.

When gloves were first introduced to the game, you only saw wide receivers and running backs with gloves. It made sense since all the players are sweating and have slippery hands and since the running back and wide receivers were the ones receiving the ball for most of the game, it wasn’t that uncommon for them to wear gloves. Since then, it seems that every position, right down to the quarterback, has worn gloves that serve a purpose.

There are many types of gloves for soccer players, such as those most common on running backs and wide receivers, but the other types would make up for defenders, linemen, and even some quarterbacks. That’s correct, even quarterbacks. I think the first in the NFL to play the quarterback position with football gloves was Kurt Warner. Many thought it was very strange, but it worked for him. Now, one day he’s heading to the NFL hall of fame, so can you really blame him? Can not.

Gloves for different positions are made differently, so telling which are the best soccer gloves can be very difficult. You may be able to choose the best glove brand, but not the type. Nike, Reebok, Under Armor and many more make quality gloves and also make a wide variety of types. You basically have to find the ones that are best for you. For example, a lineman might have fingerless gloves, but with additional pads on top of the glove, to prevent a hand injury while facing other linemen. The running back and wide receiver glove can be a bit sticky in the palm area, and that’s basically for better grip.