Evolution Of Soccer Cleats

In 1526 for a cost of four shillings this vital piece of a players equipment has evolved into a multi billion dollar business. But in the late 1800s the heavier style of the soccer boots gradually over time became replaced with a more lightweight shoe as the game changed from hobby to sport. In 1891 a revision to the Laws of the Game allowed the complaints from the people to change the way people that worked for these expensive companies like Adidas and Nike and the employees there were having their minds changed from the soccer players that were being hurt because people were breaking laws and putting nails forward into their boots and steel plates that would leave players going home with cut open shins and hurt arms and legs because the players didn’t want to follow the rules and the complaints made the workers change the way they were making the cleats. So they introduced studs and saw the first incarnation of the modern day thick leather ankle boot would not offer most flexibility but offered much needed progression from the steel toe capped work boots because they would change them and still have many complaints so they would have to change the rules in soccer because the people would not follow the existing ones. Eventually they made the cleats the right way and the soccer players would not break the rules and they were soft on the inside and had the studs on the bottom that would grip the grass and make sure they had enough spikes in the ground to make them kick better run better and even rum faster. 

The old soccer boots that King Henry VIII wore inspired how he would even wear them to games at weddings where he would make matches against the veterans coming back from the war that enjoyed and played soccer when they would get home because they saw it as a sport and at weddings because this was before the rules that made sure the cleats were fine and made sure that the players that volunteered to play weren’t getting hurt so at these matches at weddings they would go home with bloody gashes in parts of there body that shouldn’t have happened if the big brand selling companies like puma to would have made their cleats more safe with the first complaint that had been made but eventually so many people were breaking there rules that they had to sue the people because they were the ones wasting there money spent on cleats that were made for certain soccer cleats when they could have followed the rules and would not have been hurt but which changed the cleats into the cleats we have nowadays. By 1891 FAs rules directly said that only soccer boots were allowed and explained that studs could no longer be one half inch then cleats or studs had to be rounded rather than pointed and around 1925 the commercial for adidas showed what had been done differently to the cleats and self promoted the change that had been brought about by the soccer players cause they would try to claim when they had got back from the world wars they were fighting so players and teams would sign on to a contract with these big companies like nike, adidas looking for ways to innovate into the evolution of soccer cleats. With the advent of technology, the materials used in the manufacture also changed from leather to lighter materials for more comfort. The studs were now made of plastic and rubber rather than metal to reduce the risk of injuries. 

Puma’s Super Atom cleat became famous after soccer icon Pele wore it during the 1970 World Cup. The popularity of Adidas cleats also grew with more and more players wearing Adidas during international matches. Which would make the matches harder than before with new cleats. Because when you have something new compared to what you have been using since the beginning of the game then it changes the way you play. In the 1960s companies saw a change in grass type of artificial grass and the cleats they had been using for all this time could not dig in to the grass so a new outsole was needed many companies designed rubber cleats but more longer studs were needed to dig into the grass and get grip. Then soon after this change bladed cleats were introduced in the 1990s which was another big outsole for big companies that wanted to sell a lot of cleats. They were designed to help with turning sharp corners or pivoting on. They were said they were more useful and more grip on the turf. With all the new outsoles new ones were invented during this time and included triangles on the studs and more and have tried becoming much lighter outsole. Which helped a lot by helping there fatigue and which some older soccer boots that weighed a lot and would slow you down. They weighed from one pound to two pounds and that’s on your feet. The new cleats nowadays weigh about six ounces. And this couldn’t be done without the technology and advancements we have today which allowed new materials and outsoles to be made until all the soccer players liked them and they helped in soccer cause what would be the point in them if they didn’t help. More outsoles that also helped were outsoles made with carbon fiber like material which is a super strong material and is also extremely light weight. Another significant event in the history of soccer cleats is the opening of Gebruder Dassler and Schuhfabrik Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory in Herzogenaurach during 1924. Two German brothers Adolf and Rudolf started making soccer cleats with 6 or 7 replaceable nailed studs. The studs could be changed according to the weather conditions that they were playing in. 

These were the first soccer cleats to be made with replaceable studs. After not working with each other the two brothers went their separate way, giving us Adidas and Puma today. And have cleats still made to this day and when there cleats are made they are usually on top because they have all the information on how these soccer players want there cleats made nowadays. As technology advances further, the application of new research is applied in creating new and improved soccer cleats. As technology advances further, the application of new research is applied in creating new and improved soccer cleats. As the time passes many new soccer cleats are introduced, made lighter and with new improvements. And this will continue on and on through the centuries to fit to how the people want there soccer cleats to be made better to help them in soccer.