

Additionally, by wearing these spats you will find that no dirt or debris will make its way into your shoe. This is because the spat itself covers the laces of your football cleats. By using spats players will be able to ensure their shoes remain tied tight. This goes to show you that having a loose shoe can have a negative effect on your game. If you watch football often you have likely seen a cornerback tieing his shoes or putting his shoe back on after a play. Keeping Shoes Tied And TightĪnother reason that players wear spats in football is in order to keep their laces tied. By taping the ankle you will restrict its motion, therefore, making it much harder to roll. This use of tape to prevent ankle injuries is why you will often see players with injured ankles heavily taped. If this many players are using spats each game it is likely that they have a positive effect in reducing ankle injuries. Nearly half the players in the NFL choose to spat their ankles with tape before each game. Of course, when playing football you want your ankles to have some mobility to ideally the spats will stop the ankles from hyperextending. This tape has the purpose of restricting the mobility of the ankle. Spats or spatting using tape is often done around the ankle area. Players using spats believe that this equipment will allow them to keep their ankles in good condition throughout the game. Sprained ankles are one of the most common injuries that football players deal with. One of the main reasons that football players use spats is in order to reduce ankle injuries. Below we will break down the main reasons that football players elect to wear spats. Now that you know what football spats are you may be wondering why players wear them. Though players often use a technique called spatting which involves wrapping a large amount of tape around the player’s cleat and ankle. Spats of this variety are not commonly used in the NFL. For those that don’t know spats are cloth coverings that are pulled over the top of football cleats. However, they use a cover that slips right over the cleat instead of wasting tape.įor those that don’t have direct access to athletic tape, spat covers are a better alternative.Have you ever been watching a football game and wondered why football players wear spats on their cleats. Spat covers serve the same purpose as a tape spat does. See Our Complete List Of Helpful Football Articles Here Slip On Spats & Cleat Covers For Football Players Reference the video above to understand these techniques. It’s essential not to crimp any tape and make sure all the edges are laid flat. Once the heel lock and figure 8 are complete, continue to the high ankle and cut the piece of tape. This support piece of tape will add support along the heel and lower ankle. Last, add the “heel-lock” and the figure-8’s of tape to the ankle with one continuous motion. This requires taking a long piece of tape, and sticking it on the high ankle side, all the way around under the foot, to the other side of the ankle. Next, add the “stirrups” to the medial side of the ankle. This requires adding one strip, ripping off a piece, and adding another piece of tape. Once the pre-wrap has been applied to the ankle, it’s time to add base strips to the high ankle and horseshoe of the cleat. This will also help add an adhesive for the tape rather than sticking directly to your cleats/socks. Start by wrapping the pre-wrap around the ankle for added support. To properly spat or tape your cleats, you’ll need the following: This article will show you why football players spat & taped their cleats. The added layer of tape protects against contact from other players. Why do these football players spat their cleats?įootball players spat their cleats to add ankle support, reducing the risk of injury. It’s often found on skill players (wide receivers, running backs, and quarterbacks). Football players will spat their ankles for many different reasons.
