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Surfing the Turf

Selecting the right turf shoe
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Sponsored by Eastbay
1-800-826-2205

Surfing the Turf
Selecting the right turf shoe

By AFM Staff

Ask any coach at any level the hardest thing to teach to a player and the answer invariably comes up ‘speed.’ While it can be enhanced or modified, there’s no substitute for it. In many respects, a football player has it or doesn’t. Decisions are made on it and the football world has been fixated on it, especially the 40-yard dash time.

Inherent to a college player’s ability to get to the NFL is a relatively competitive 40-yard dash time. A tenth of a second differential may make the difference between being a first round pick and an un-drafted free agent. Whether a burner at wide receiver or a pulling guard, times in this sprint help determine a prospect’s worth.

Speed is important at every level; a key ingredient in maximizing a player’s speed is the shoe he uses. Crucial to his and his team’s success, it’s a priority to be fitted with the correct shoe for the right surface. Today, there are more and more fields with various types of artificial surfaces, whether it be a high school rivalry, an SEC showdown, or an NFL playoff game.

Eastbay, the company that knows shoes, offers a number of hints and suggestions to making sure the right shoe is purchased for artificial turf surfaces. Eastbay’s fit technician James Ochs offers some guidance for the player – at any level – ready to buy the right shoe. “Most artificial turfs have generally the same surfaces,” says Ochs. “Most shoes have rubber soles with detachable cleats that are either a 1/2 or 3/4 inch. It is crucial to see what cleats work best for you on an artificial surface and a wet surface may indicate you need a different shoe.”

Ochs offers these tips before the actual purchase:

1. Traction - while looks are important, traction is the most important element to a player’s game. He should be able to move, pivot, change directions with ample support.

2. Heel - in testing the shoe it’s important to make sure the heel doesn’t slip. While standing straight and placing your index finger in the shoe’s heel, you may have a shoe that’s too loose and need one a half-size smaller.

3. Durability - all shoes will be tested by surfaces, weather, and the opposition. Most shoes include a specific kind of rubber: carbon, vulcanized, or blown. Carbon rubber generally lasts longer while vulcanized and blown rubber usually offers more comfort and traction; however, more often than not will wear out quicker.

4. Comfort - still the most important element to selecting the right shoe. What may be comfortable for one person may not be for another. Don’t be swayed by others’ preference and opinions...select the shoe that’s most comfortable for you.

Additionally, testing a shoe is important for another reason. While there are various shoe sizes in terms of length, there are not corresponding width sizes. Consequently, one shoe can give a player too much width and another may be too tight from side-to-side. High tops or low tops are also important depending on preference and position. A lineman may want more ankle support with a high top shoe while a skilled position player may like more freedom of movement with a lighter low top cleat. Each is an individual preference.

The following pages will give you a better idea of Eastbay’s shoes ready for the 2004 season.

adidas Scorch Turf Low
A lightweight shoe for flashier skill players. Lightweight synthetic leather upper. Dual-lasted CMEVA midsole adds comfort, adiPRENE®+ in forefoot, Torsion® bar provides midfoot arch protection. Carbon rubber outsole with interior TraXion™ and outer cutting area for lateral movements.

adidas Scorch Turf 3/4
Synthetic leather upper. Dual-lasted CMEVA midsole adds comfort, adiPRENE®+ in forefoot, Torsion® bar provides midfoot arch protection. Carbon rubber outsole with interior TraXion™ and outer cutting area for lateral movements.

Nike Air Zoom Blade Turf
Synthetic leather upper and injected TPU forefoot support frame, Dri-FIT® dynamic innersleeve adds glove-like fit. Phylon™ wedge midsole with full-length Zoom Air™ unit offers responsive cushioning. Three-color nubby outsole gives traction on multiple artificial surfaces.

Nike Air Zoom Astro Grabber 3/4 Provides ultimate traction in all conditions. Synthetic leather and mesh upper, full-length contoured Phylon midsole with forefoot Zoom Air™ unit, TPU shank for added rigidity, three-color aggressive turf outsole.

Nike Air Zoom Astro Grabber Low
Provides ultimate traction in all conditions. Synthetic leather and mesh upper, full-length contoured Phylon™ midsole with forefoot Zoom Air™ unit, TPU shank for added rigidity, three-color aggressive turf outsole.

Nike Air Zoom Boss Turf 3/4
Rubber outsole provides exceptional traction. Midfoot strap offers added support. CMEVA midsole with Max Air® in heel offers extra cushioning. Synthetic leather upper provides easy cleaning and long-lasting style.

Nike Air Zoom Barracuda Low
Synthetic leather and mesh upper, speed lacing for added support. Full-length Zoom Air™ unit encapsulated in polyurethane insole, contoured Phylon™ wedge midsole. Pebax® plate with metal tipped cleats, seven-stud cleat configuration with secondary TPU forefoot cleats.

Air Jordan XIII D
The Football version of the Air Jordan XIII. Leather/suede upper, C-EVA wedge midsole withZoom Air™ unit. Seven-stud Pebax® outsole.

Nike Air Zoom Veer D
The shoe that helped redefine cleated footwear. Nubuck upper with midfoot “spat” strap provides support and lockdown, dynamic fit tongue enhances fit. Contoured Phylon™ midsole wedge with full-length Zoom Air™ unit delivers responsive cushioning and disperses cleat pressure. Pebax® plate with metal-tipped cleats. Seven-stud cleat configuration with secondary TPU forefoot cleats.

adidas Superstar TrX
Made for college level/elite high school speed players. Synthetic patent leather upper with rubber shell toe. Internal LightStrike™ EVA cushioning system, molded EVA sockliner with adiPRENE®+ forefoot insert, Pebax® and TPU football specific TraXion™ plate.

Nike Men's Open Field 3/4
Soft performance polyurethane-coated leather upper, midfoot spat strap adds support and stability. Polyurethane innersole, contoured Phylon™ wedge midsole. Lightweight winged plate with seven-stud cleat configuration for enhanced traction.

Nike Men’s Blade Shark Mid
Synthetic leather upper with midfoot spat strap, perforated quarter panels add breathability. Contoured Phylon™ wedge midsole. Bladed TPU outsole provides excellent traction on multiple surfaces.

CLEAT TYPES
Detachable: The most versatile and popular cleat on the market. They perform best in normal to wet conditions where the grass is not too firm. Cleat length can be changed to accommodate terrain.
Molded: Football cleats that are non-removable. They are great for hard surfaces and heavier players because they absorb more body weight. Molded shoes are more affordable than detachable cleats.
Turf: Turf football cleats are designed specifically for use on artificial surfaces. In fact, they resemble sneakers more than cleats. Some turf shoes have rubber nubs on the soles used to grip artificial turf.

SHOE ANATOMY

Upper: Upper portion of the shoe keeps the foot in the shoe while providing some support to the foot.

Insole: Part of the shoe that provides comfort and keeps foot from sliding inside of shoe.

Midsole: Located between the upper and outsole of shoe. Not all football shoes offer a midsole. Provides comfort and support.

Outsole: Most important part of the football shoe. It is the bottom of the shoe which includes the shoe’s traction properties.

- James Ochs, Eastbay-Footlocker Fit Technician

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.

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.

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.






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