Why Do Soccer Players Have Holes in Their Socks?
If you’ve watched any World Cup or Premier League games in the recent past, you’ve probably noticed that many of the players have holes in the back of their socks.
Was it because the material was cheap? Nope. The holes are there on purpose.
The actual reason why players have holes in their socks is to reduce pressure on their calf muscles.
Traditionally, soccer socks are very snug and restrictive. Sometimes this can lead to poor blood flow.
To avoid fatigue and potential injury, soccer players have resorted to cutting holes in the back of their socks. An alternative is wearing shorter socks like England’s Jack Grealish.
While it’s not scientifically proven, loosening the threads and providing less restriction does make sense to me…the average person!
Frequently Asked Questions
Players like Neymar Jr., pull their socks over their calves because it keeps their leg muscles warm, adds compression to the knees, and holds the shin guards in place.
Nope. Shin guards are required and soccer socks help them stay in place. This makes soccer socks a necessity but there’s no formal rule in place. With this said, your club, league, or coach may have their own rules.
Written By: Beau Bridges
Founder of SoccerNovo
I’m Beau 👋 a proud dad of an MLS NEXT player, former soccer coach, soccer enthusiast, and board member of our local youth sports program. I created soccernovo.com to share my knowledge of the game and help parents learn more about youth soccer in the U.S. I also authored an eBook ‘Soccer Coach Made Simple‘. Learn more about Beau.
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