At any level of football, pretty much every player on the field will be wearing some form of tape during a game. Most of the time, you can spot them on players' socks or limbs, but sometimes they’re discreetly hidden away.
You may choose to tape yourself, or perhaps your team's physio will be taping you up pre-game to help your body feel its best. Whatever the case, you'll see tape in football a lot.
This is your ultimate guide to football tapes.
WHAT TAPES DO FOOTBALL PLAYERS USE:
1. SOCK TAPE
Anyone who’s played a game of football knows that your socks aren’t staying up for a whole game without some help. It’s the secret to securing shin pads and bridging the gap between your grip socks and team socks.
It is also occasionally used by goalkeepers to tape up their fingers! For the leg, however, the player will wrap the Sock Tape around their calf and then fold the top of the sock back over. Boom.
Features for football
- PVC that stretches 175% which allows for muscle expansion beneath the tape.
- 9 range of colours to match your team's football kit.
- Prevents over compression that reduces blood flow known as ‘tourniquet’.
2. COHESIVE SOCK WRAP
Sock Wrap or Cohesive Bandage (same thing!)...
Many football players now choose to cut the feet off their team socks in order to wear their own ankle socks. These ‘grip’ socks have small dots along the bottom of the sock that give better traction within the boot. This stops the foot from moving within the boot, improving the feel on the ball and increasing stability when making quick changes of direction.
You can use Sock Wrap to bridge the gap between the top of the ‘grip’ sock and the bottom of your cut-off team sock, creating the illusion of a single sock. This also helps to keep the bottom of the shin pad in place.
Sock Wrap is a more effective choice as it's wider and has no glue, meaning it can be re-used game-after-game and is kinder on any area of exposed skin.
Features for football
- Provides comfortable compression that will easily last for an entire football match.
- Used under goalie gloves to protect the hand and wrist.
- Available in 15 different colours so you can match them up perfectly with your kit.
3. ZINC OXIDE TAPE
Zinc Oxide Tape is the only choice if you need to immobilise an area. It is a non-stretch tape that provides unrivalled support.
Choose the Tan/Brown version for its highest tensile strength. Because of it’s tensile strength, the most common use of Zinc Oxide Tape is to support joints such as the ankle, knee and shoulder. You won’t usually see it on show though – it’s usually hidden by a sock or jersey.
If you'd like to learn about some of the ways that Zinc Oxide can be used to tape up certain football injuries, head over to our learn page.
Features for football
- The rigidity can help to restrict and prevent painful movements, or movements that may cause injuries.
- Used to protect non-weight bearing joints, such as; fingers, wrists and thumbs.
- Perfect support for ankles, knees and shoulders.
4. KINESIOLOGY TAPE
Use Kinesiology Tapes to aid movement. When applied, it stretches and moves with the body. This provides dynamic support and can help to ease pain and reduce swelling.
You’ll often see these tapes in bright colours stuck to the leg of your favourite football player. Because they are used for neural feedback, they are the number one choice for muscle injuries.
If you'd like to learn about some of the ways that K Tape can be used to tape up certain football injuries, head over to our learn page.
Features for football
- The ideal tape for common football injuries like; calf tightness, runner's knee and ankle strain.
- Comes in multiple colours that can be used to match your team's jersey.
And that’s it! Now you know exactly what tape to pick for every situation out there on the pitch, whether you’re a poacher like Jamie Vardy, or a shot-stopper like Edersen. If you'd like any more information about any of these tapes, get in touch. We'd love to help!
