Post by Coach Campbell on Dec 5, 2013 17:00:47 GMT
History of Football Cleats
By Joel DeVyldere
Cleats have long given versatility and protection from muscle injuries to football players of all stripes. Their main function is to give a player's footwear better grip on turf, especially in wet or muddy conditions. Advances in the development of the cleat have tracked the game of American football from its inception in the 1860s.
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Slow Beginnings
Cleats date back to the 16th century, when England's Henry the VIII ordered what may have been the first pair of specialized cleats for his "The Great Wardrobe." Cleats first appeared on the opposite side of the Atlantic as footwear for soccer players in the early 19th century. American football followed with early models that had leather, metal or even wooden studs. That in turn led to multiple injuries.
Along Came Rubber
As football evolved, some innovators saw the need for new and better cleats. In 1925, German brothers Rudolf and Adi Dassler, who would go to start Puma and Adidas, developed cleats with removable studs. Players were able to drill in their athletic shoes, then take off the studs and walk home. Rubber cleats, once considered too heavy for the game, came along in the 1920s as well thanks to the emergence of vulcanized rubber.
Playing in Mud
While coaching at Oregon Agriculture College, which became Oregon State, football innovator Joseph Pipal developed what came to be known as "mud cleats." These longer, sharper cleats were designed to improve performance in muddy conditions. They stand alongside the lateral pass as Pipal's contributions to the game of football.
By Joel DeVyldere
Cleats have long given versatility and protection from muscle injuries to football players of all stripes. Their main function is to give a player's footwear better grip on turf, especially in wet or muddy conditions. Advances in the development of the cleat have tracked the game of American football from its inception in the 1860s.
Want to get in great shape? Learn more about LIVESTRONG.COM's nutrition and fitness program!
Slow Beginnings
Cleats date back to the 16th century, when England's Henry the VIII ordered what may have been the first pair of specialized cleats for his "The Great Wardrobe." Cleats first appeared on the opposite side of the Atlantic as footwear for soccer players in the early 19th century. American football followed with early models that had leather, metal or even wooden studs. That in turn led to multiple injuries.
Along Came Rubber
As football evolved, some innovators saw the need for new and better cleats. In 1925, German brothers Rudolf and Adi Dassler, who would go to start Puma and Adidas, developed cleats with removable studs. Players were able to drill in their athletic shoes, then take off the studs and walk home. Rubber cleats, once considered too heavy for the game, came along in the 1920s as well thanks to the emergence of vulcanized rubber.
Playing in Mud
While coaching at Oregon Agriculture College, which became Oregon State, football innovator Joseph Pipal developed what came to be known as "mud cleats." These longer, sharper cleats were designed to improve performance in muddy conditions. They stand alongside the lateral pass as Pipal's contributions to the game of football.