Whilst owning a nice shiny pair of Ronaldo Mercurial Vapor IV football boots may help give you a psychological boost, if after 20 minutes of training your feet are hurting and you can't wait to get the things off, then your hard earned money and time have been wasted.
Here are some of the things to bear in mind when choosing your new boots. Always go to the sports shop in the afternoon, your feet may have swollen slightly by this time. Also remember that different manufacturers sizes may vary slightly, so always try on any pair of boots you intend to buy.
This may seem obvious, but for some people it isn't.
A new pair of boots should be assessed for, comfort support and stability, they must be flexible and have good grip. They must also provide some protection against direct contact from either the ball, or an opponents kick!
Other considerations to be made are, the boot should suit the players foot type ( this assessment is best made with the help of an expert)
There should be a gap of approximately 7 to 10 mm between the players longest toe and the boot material. The tongue should be well padded, and with the laces tied, the foot should be supported and feel comfortable.
Care should also be taking when choosing the type of stud. (These could be screw-in round, screw-in blade, molded round, molded blade) It is wise to remember that the position of the stud on the sole is of great importance. Problems can occur when players switch boot brands due to unfamiliar pressures from the studs.
New boots should be worn in gradually, wearing them in training for longer and longer periods is advisable. Wearing them for a game without having first got used to them would be very foolish, due to the high chance of injury. Also the stud choice should depend on the surface on which the game is to be played.
Post match, the boots should be immediately cleaned, dried naturally, artificial heat may adversely affect the materials. Treatment with a nourishing spray will prolong the boots life and flexibility, and will allow them to be used successfully for a long time.
By Paul Watson
