So what will the future bring in regards to Football/Soccer equipment….Well I have given this a lot of thought, and here are my predictions.
1. Gloves: I think there will be a continued push to design Fingerprotection style gloves, but with a twist. I think someone will perfect (or as close as you can) the bio mechanical movments of the hand, creating a REAL FP glove. One that not only protects from hyperextension, but jamming/stubbing, and stamped hands as well. I envision some sort of shock absorption type spring at the tips of fingers to prevent stubbing, and a harder exterior shell on the glove that will protect the goalkeepers hands from stamping, or other stepping injuries.
Latex…I think the next several years will finally see a breakthrough in a new palm material (maybe 5-7 years away, if not sooner). Do not get me wrong, their have been lots of breakthroughs in palm materials over the year, but the one consistent ingredient to a high end palm has always been natural latex rubber. I think this is about to change. Plastics and Synthetic rubber materials have come a long way since the first gloves were worn in the early 70’s, and I think that a company will finally “crack the code” in making a durable, shock absorbing, grip enhancing material soon. I honestly doubt the discovery will be meant for GK gloves, but a bi-product of other fields. Folks have mentioned silicon palms, so maybe somewhere along those lines.
Glove Cut’s…I think we have 5 or 6 legitimate glove cuts now (Flat, Negative, Roll, Semi Roll, Semi Negative, Bowl, and other variants), so I can not see the actual cut of gloves changing radically. I do think that companies have made strides on making each cut more functional, and comfortable.
2. Footwear: I can honestly see leather being a think of the past in 10 years. I shutter at that thought, but companies have really begun the push of synthetics materials since the real first high end Synthetic Soccer Boot. (Nike Ronald Mercurial I think)…If you look at each companies top of the line shoes, you will generally see an equal number of synthetic boots (if not more) than traditional leathers. Adidas has the F50 line, along with a synthetic version of its widely popular Predator line. Nike has the T90’s and Vapor’s in mostly synthetic offerings. Lotto, Umbro, Puma, Diadora all have shoes in the mid $100’s to $300 range in pure synthetic boots. I envision a company finally creating a synthetic that stretches…This will be the nail in the coffin for leather shoes. That is the one real reason synthetics have not overtaken leather shoes already. You have to have a perfect size D width foot to fit in the vast majority of synthetics today. Companies can not afford to create a variety of widths, so they keep several leather shoes in the lineup to appeal to those of us with Fred Flinstone feet. If they were to break this barrier, what would be the point in making leather shoes? Leather tanning, and processing is far more expensive than synthetics…You may ask why companies charge more for synthetic boots then….good old fashion profits, that’s why! They know if they slap a fancy name on it, and have Becks showing you how great a shoe it is, that people will buy it in droves….I also see a shoe on the horizon that prevents injury. Not a exo-skeleton per-say, but maybe materials that become stiff or semi rigid when great force is applied to them (sort of like Sells D3o for shoes?). I also see companies producing shoes in the 4-5 oz range. I think the rounded stud will actually make a comeback due to the injuries blades apparently cause. Maybe a different style conical stud will make an appearance in the near future. I prefer playing in bladed studs, but I also prefer someone kicking me has rounded studs…
3. Football/Soccer Balls: This one scares me the most. It is shocking what some of the new balls on the market do when they are struck with any kind of pace or bend now. Can you imagine what the future will bring? The new line of adidas thermo bonded balls are simply shocking to play with when there is a hint of moisture. I think the coatings are now designed specifically to be slippery when wet. Of course adidas, nike, puma would never admit to this, but lets face it, people want to see goals. The easiest way to make the games higher scoring is to make it difficult on the goalkeepers. The new balls do precisely that, and will only get worse. I see a ball that will offer a much higher rate of impact rebound in the future, causing greater velocity and swerve (I think this has been here already for years folks, but it will only get worse).
4 . Textiles: This is going to sound really out there, but I honestly think someone will create a kit that has programmable temperature control. Crazy huh? Obviously it will not have a thermostat, but I can honestly see Under Armour, or a similar company creating a Hot Weather shirt, and a Cold weather shirt that will have a max/min temperature built in to the garment. Hot weather shirt would not reach a temp of 90f +, or Cold weather shirt would not drop below 70f etc…I also see a permadry shirt that will wick away moisture instantly. UA is very close to doing that now, but I think it will dramatically improve in the next several years.
Well what do you think people? Any other soothsayers out there? Please post your thoughts!!
Cheers,
Chewie
Posted
Jul 17 2007, 05:21 AM
by
ChewieGK1