How to Size Soccer Gloves
Having gloves that fit properly are extrememly important in the world of soccor. Ill-fitting gloves could cause a goalie to drop a ball or get their gloves caught on the net. To serious soccor players, the gloves are as importrant as the cleats.
- Understand the importance of the goalie gloves. The gloves a goalie wears during a soccer match are not only for comfort; they help goalkeepers control shots and provide protection to the goalkeeper's hands.
- Make sure to buy the correct size. Fingertips in the gloves should be a half-inch from the ends of the gloves for an ideal fit. A 1/4-inch is also acceptable. Gloves with more than an inch at the fingertips are too big and can cause the gloves to tear or breakdown.
- Material choice for the palm latex is also important in glove sizing. A "wet weather" glove, for example, must be presoaked, kept wet and is used in the rain. It tends to fit a little smaller than a "dry weather" or "all weather" palm latex glove. The better and more expensive the palm latex, the better the grip on the soccer ball. The trade off is a lack of durability. Durable gloves lose gripping abilities.
- Buy an inexpensive pair of training gloves to start with if you can't determine your size. Most high-end sporting facilities have trainers who can help you with sizing as well.
- Keep your gloves clean to preserve a long life.