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Getting
the Boot (1)
Written by Adrian Lim
Beneath even the biggest soccer stars is a pair of shoes designed and
tested by engineers to push the limits of the game. The soccer boot (the
traditional name for a soccer shoe) has evolved a great deal in form and
function, particularly in the past few decades. To keep up with the sport's
growing demands, industry has introduced a plethora of new designs and
materials. With hi-tech sensors and computers, engineers analyze the challenges
faced by athletes in match conditions. The sophisticated testing methods
employed by today's largest shoe manufacturers allow engineers to design
innovative boots that aid the athlete, improve performance, and drive
the sport to new heights.
The 2004 UEFA Euro
soccer tournament in Portugal showcased the talent, flair, and excitement
of one of the world's most popular sports. Along with the glitz and glamour
of soccer's finest stars, discerning spectators saw the latest in cutting
edge technology. The soccer boot (the traditional name for a soccer shoe),
which serves as the primary medium linking a player to the turf and the
ball, could arguably be called the single most important piece of equipment
in the sport. For this reason, companies annually invest millions of dollars
and spend thousands of hours completing research to ensure that players
receive as much of a competitive edge as possible.
Although the base
design of the soccer boot has changed very little over the past 70 years
(Kippen), the modern shoe contains numerous innovations, some more visible
than others, that allow a player to push beyond the normal boundaries
of performance. At its core, soccer boot technology aims to improve a
player's game in three major categories: movement, ball interaction, and
comfort/protection. A better understanding of the significant contributions
engineering has made to the sport of soccer will be gained by examining
the new innovations in these three areas.
Get
a Grip
As the player's primary point of interaction with the playing surface,
the soccer boot must provide excellent traction. Better traction allows
for greater acceleration and directional control. The innovation that
allows for this traction is the cleats or studs that run along the bottom
of the shoe, an improvement resulting from the demands of poor weather
and field conditions (Kippen). Borrowing from field hockey shoes of the
same era, shoemakers attached plugs of leather to the base of the shoe
in the 1890's (Kippen). Safety rules regulating the type of materials
that could be used in the manufacture of the studs required the use of
leather plugs instead of more dangerous metal tacks.
Over time, as players
improved and game styles changed, cleat versatility, design and placement
became important areas of development. In terms of versatility, removable
studs, pioneered in the 1920's (Kippen), allowed players unprecedented
control over traction capabilities. Players could tailor the stud length
according to field conditions, choosing longer studs for better grip in
wet conditions and shorter studs for firmer, dry surfaces. The ability
to swap out studs was such a significant innovation that it remains a
feature on many high-end soccer boots manufactured today.
Cleat design focuses
mainly on the shape and material used in construction. While older shoes
used hardened, leather studs, modern shoes commonly feature durable, tough
plastics or metals such as steel or magnesium, which have the benefit
of low weight. Plastic cleats have the advantage of being directly molded
from the same piece of material as the sole of the shoe, which reduces
manufacturing costs. Commonly, studs incorporate a circular design with
a wider diameter near the sole and a slightly smaller diameter closer
to the point of contact with the ground. Alternatively, some companies
have adopted more radical stud designs such as angular, teeth-like cleats,
called blades, designed to provide more aggressive grip in predetermined
positions.
Cleat
placement also contributes significantly to the functionality of a soccer
boot. A standard arrangement of four studs in the forefoot and two studs
in the heel allows for even weight distribution and has been the style
of placement most common since the advent of studs. Using advanced pressure
sensors and computers, however, modern day researchers for numerous shoe
companies have discovered other arrangements suited to better performance.
Circular patterns optimize omni directional acceleration (Kippen) while
laterally arranged studs provide an advantage in directional changes to
the left or right. This means that in addition to improving traction,
cleat arrangement can also affect a player's agility.
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