Putting Your Best Feet Forward
by: AFM Editorial Staff©
More from this issue
Finding
the right shoe for the right foot can be a daunting task for anyone,
much less a high school football player looking to increase
comfort and maximize performance on the field. Many factors come
into play in proper football shoe selection, such as durability,
functionability, comfort and cost.
American Football Monthly and Eastbay, the company that knows shoes,
have teamed
up for the second annual shoe review.
FOOTSTEPS:
Know your players’ feet ..
Choosing the right shoe is critical to
the success of your players’ game. In order to
maximize your athletes’ performance, you must first
pay attention to the correct shoe and the correct fit.
If you or your players are unaware of their foot type,
Eastbay-Footlocker Fit Technician James Ochs suggests
consulting a podiatrist to determine what type of support
will enable a player to peform at peak levels.
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This summer’s offering of football
shoes is more diverse and expansive than ever before. This year, with the help
of Fit Technician, James Ochs, AFM
showcases 10 of the top football shoes available. Reviews include highlights
on shoes from Nike, Reebok and Adidas, along with key vital statistics for
each shoe, such as design, weight, price range and purpose.
Last
year, the Air Zoom Apocalypse was Nike’s best-selling
football cleat, while the top seller for Adidas was the Scorch
3D and for Reebok the 4 Speed
(and 4 Speed D). According to Ochs, look for more of the same from Nike with
their Air Zoom Apocalypse III.
“Nike, Adidas and Reebok have really been doing their homework as far as
providing the athlete with the best quality footwear,” said Ochs. “Many
manufacturers carry its more successful lines forward from prior seasons. I believe
that Nike’s newest version of the Air Zoom Apocalypse could be one of
the real standouts this season, but all the shoes available this year are good
shoes.”
One of the biggest trends for 2003 is the surge in shoe customization. Ochs claims
that both Nike and Reebok will fill the custom shoe niche` quite nicely with
affordable, quality products.
FOOT
TYPES:
Flat Arch - Feet tend
to over-pronate. Look for motion-control shoes to control
the motion of your heel. Avoid highly cushioned shoes,
because they provide less stability and control.
Normal Arch - Feet neither over-pronate or under-pronate. Normal
arch does function best with cushion and
moderate control features. This foot type is not as common as the flat
foot.
High Arch - Feet tend to under-pronate. This foot is often called
a supinated foot. Look for cushioned shoes with lots of flexibility to
promote foot motion. Avoid motion-controlled shoes.
WET FOOT
TEST
Which foot are you?
Take the “Wet Foot” test ...
Simply wet your feet and stand on any
surface that will leave an imprint. Then take a look
at your footprint. Most feet will fall into one of the
three major categories: flat arch, normal arch or high
arch.
WEAR-OUT
POINTS
Shoes generally wear out
in one of three places:
Heel Strike - Shoes wear
on the outsole at the point of heel contact to the surface.
Associated with high-arched feet.
Mid-stance - Shoes wear at the
mid-foot area around the arch. Associated with
flat feet.
Toe-off - Shoes wear on the outsole
near the big toe or medial side. Associated with
normal-arch feet.
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“Athletes can now personalize their shoes to include their name, team,
number and school color,” said Ochs. “Shoe customization is the
future. It has moved into every branch of our business.”
According to Ochs, there are eight specific areas available for customization
on Nike’s new Torque D ID, Torque Turf ID and Torque Shark ID, such as:
tongue color, toe-box color, lateral side color, medial side color, upper color,
support eyelet color, heel identification (name, number and team) and tongue
identification. Each shoe is in the $100 price range.
“The great thing about these shoes, is that they are really good shoes
that perform well,” said Ochs. “We are not talking about $50 football
shoes here, we are talking about top dollar shoes that you can customize at
an affordable price.”
When it comes to football construction, athletes have a lot of options. Some
shoes are based on traditional football lasts (framework) and others on soccer
lasts. The key factor to remember is to select a shoe that best fits you
and your needs.
“Do not select a shoe based on what another athlete on your
team wears,” said
Ochs. “That is like everyone on the same team wearing a medium uniform – it
just won’t work. One of the key problems for athletes is buying shoes
that are too small. If your toes touch the end of shoe and your heel is backed
up
against the back of the shoe, chances are that shoe is too small. When an athlete
runs, their feet expand and need room to move, otherwise the athlete is risking
injury.”
Ochs also claims that by looking for redness, swelling and soreness, an athlete
may gauge whether or not he is wearing a proper-fitting football shoe, which
is the key to maximizing performance and comfort. So know your foot type (see
Wet Foot Test).
“You don’t want to start a season with old shoes,” concludes
Ochs. “Constantly check the wear-out points (see Wear-out Points) and
purchase new shoes if necessary. Footwear selection is a critical process that
an athlete must be aware of to be successful.”
2003 SHOE REVIEW >>