Putting Your Best Feet Forward

Sponsored by Eastbay

Finding the right shoe for the right foot can be a daunting task for anyone, much less a high school football player looking to increase comfort and maximize performance on the field. Many factors come into play in proper football shoe selection, such as durability, functionability, comfort and cost.

American Football Monthly and Eastbay, the company that knows shoes, have teamed up for the second annual shoe review.

FOOTSTEPS: Know your players’ feet .. Choosing the right shoe is critical to the success of your players’ game. In order to maximize your athletes’ performance, you must first pay attention to the correct shoe and the correct fit. If you or your players are unaware of their foot type, Eastbay-Footlocker Fit Technician James Ochs suggests consulting a podiatrist to determine what type of support will enable a player to peform at peak levels.

This summer’s offering of football shoes is more diverse and expansive than ever before. This year, with the help of Fit Technician, James Ochs, AFM showcases 10 of the top football shoes available. Reviews include highlights on shoes from Nike, Reebok and Adidas, along with key vital statistics for each shoe, such as design, weight, price range and purpose.

Last year, the Air Zoom Apocalypse was Nike’s best-selling football cleat, while the top seller for Adidas was the Scorch 3D and for Reebok the 4 Speed (and 4 Speed D). According to Ochs, look for more of the same from Nike with their Air Zoom Apocalypse III.

“Nike, Adidas and Reebok have really been doing their homework as far as providing the athlete with the best quality footwear,” said Ochs. “Many manufacturers carry its more successful lines forward from prior seasons. I believe that Nike’s newest version of the Air Zoom Apocalypse could be one of the real standouts this season, but all the shoes available this year are good shoes.”

One of the biggest trends for 2003 is the surge in shoe customization. Ochs claims that both Nike and Reebok will fill the custom shoe niche` quite nicely with affordable, quality products.

FOOT TYPES: Flat Arch - Feet tend to over-pronate. Look for motion-control shoes to control the motion of your heel. Avoid highly cushioned shoes, because they provide less stability and control. Normal Arch - Feet neither over-pronate or under-pronate. Normal arch does function best with cushion and moderate control features. This foot type is not as common as the flat foot. High Arch - Feet tend to under-pronate. This foot is often called a supinated foot. Look for cushioned shoes with lots of flexibility to promote foot motion. Avoid motion-controlled shoes. WET FOOT TEST Which foot are you? Take the “Wet Foot” test ... Simply wet your feet and stand on any surface that will leave an imprint. Then take a look at your footprint. Most feet will fall into one of the three major categories: flat arch, normal arch or high arch. WEAR-OUT POINTS Shoes generally wear out in one of three places: Heel Strike - Shoes wear on the outsole at the point of heel contact to the surface. Associated with high-arched feet. Mid-stance - Shoes wear at the mid-foot area around the arch. Associated with flat feet. Toe-off - Shoes wear on the outsole near the big toe or medial side. Associated with normal-arch feet.

“Athletes can now personalize their shoes to include their name, team, number and school color,” said Ochs. “Shoe customization is the future. It has moved into every branch of our business.”

According to Ochs, there are eight specific areas available for customization on Nike’s new Torque D ID, Torque Turf ID and Torque Shark ID, such as: tongue color, toe-box color, lateral side color, medial side color, upper color, support eyelet color, heel identification (name, number and team) and tongue identification. Each shoe is in the $100 price range.

“The great thing about these shoes, is that they are really good shoes that perform well,” said Ochs. “We are not talking about $50 football shoes here, we are talking about top dollar shoes that you can customize at an affordable price.”

When it comes to football construction, athletes have a lot of options. Some shoes are based on traditional football lasts (framework) and others on soccer lasts. The key factor to remember is to select a shoe that best fits you and your needs.

“Do not select a shoe based on what another athlete on your team wears,” said Ochs. “That is like everyone on the same team wearing a medium uniform – it just won’t work. One of the key problems for athletes is buying shoes that are too small. If your toes touch the end of shoe and your heel is backed up against the back of the shoe, chances are that shoe is too small. When an athlete runs, their feet expand and need room to move, otherwise the athlete is risking injury.”

Ochs also claims that by looking for redness, swelling and soreness, an athlete may gauge whether or not he is wearing a proper-fitting football shoe, which is the key to maximizing performance and comfort. So know your foot type (see Wet Foot Test).

“You don’t want to start a season with old shoes,” concludes Ochs. “Constantly check the wear-out points (see Wear-out Points) and purchase new shoes if necessary. Footwear selection is a critical process that an athlete must be aware of to be successful.”

2003 SHOE REVIEW >>