OK! So I am out here in Colorado at our US Headquarters reviewing and setting the Reusch USA product offering for 2016--Gloves, Gear, Apparel, and Accessories. During the review, one of the items that we have decided to continue to "push" is base-layer protection.
For the past couple of years, we have begun to offer more and more Goalkeeper padding and protection pieces in our product mix. If you have read this Blog before, you will no doubt recall that I have often suggested/begged/pleaded for young GKs to "pad up" when training. Let me share with you WHY I continually push "pad up Agenda".
I am approaching--far too rapidly--60 years of age. I don't feel like I'm 60 years old, but you've heard that from old people before, so keep reading. When I played, I--like every other kid--wanted to look 'sleek' and 'professional'! I didn't want to look bulky and pudgy, and I didn't want to wear those pads that were too hot and cumbersome--at least, that's the excuse I used. I was a serious GK. That involved serious GK training for hours and hours to sharpen my craft. Through those hours of training I was able to achieve my goals of playing in High School, College, and professionally. The wear and tear on my body was immense--AND the wear and tear was hugely exacerbated by the fact that most training fields in the US are dry, dusty, bone-hard patches of sparse grass or artificial turf. Over the course of approximately 20 years training and playing outdoors and indoors my body took a beating.
In February of 2011 and for the ensuing 32 month period, I had both hips and one knee replaced. Now, I know that a lot of people have joint replacements. And former athletes have maybe more instances of joint replacements than the general population. But I can tell you DIRECTLY, that not wearing the proper on-body padding for training DID lead to my needing 3 joint replacement surgeries in my latter years. Don't get me wrong--I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! But I would "pad up" for training religiously. It's TRAINING. No one cares what you look like in training!
So, may I continue to suggest to GKs and GK parents....please be sure to have in your bag for training, elbow pads, knee pads, and hip padding. Technology in sporting goods has continued to evolve over the years, and today GKs can enjoy light-weight, breathable, high-impact protection for reasonable expense. (By the way, hip and knee replacements run about $60K each) So, PLEASE......when you go out to train--with your team or with your GK Coach--PAD UP!
You may thank me when you're 60! (I'll be dead then, but you know what I'm saying...)
For a wide selection of quality GK on-body padding and base-layer compression garments and gear, go to
www.reuschusa.com
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot straight at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV
For the past couple of years, we have begun to offer more and more Goalkeeper padding and protection pieces in our product mix. If you have read this Blog before, you will no doubt recall that I have often suggested/begged/pleaded for young GKs to "pad up" when training. Let me share with you WHY I continually push "pad up Agenda".
I am approaching--far too rapidly--60 years of age. I don't feel like I'm 60 years old, but you've heard that from old people before, so keep reading. When I played, I--like every other kid--wanted to look 'sleek' and 'professional'! I didn't want to look bulky and pudgy, and I didn't want to wear those pads that were too hot and cumbersome--at least, that's the excuse I used. I was a serious GK. That involved serious GK training for hours and hours to sharpen my craft. Through those hours of training I was able to achieve my goals of playing in High School, College, and professionally. The wear and tear on my body was immense--AND the wear and tear was hugely exacerbated by the fact that most training fields in the US are dry, dusty, bone-hard patches of sparse grass or artificial turf. Over the course of approximately 20 years training and playing outdoors and indoors my body took a beating.
In February of 2011 and for the ensuing 32 month period, I had both hips and one knee replaced. Now, I know that a lot of people have joint replacements. And former athletes have maybe more instances of joint replacements than the general population. But I can tell you DIRECTLY, that not wearing the proper on-body padding for training DID lead to my needing 3 joint replacement surgeries in my latter years. Don't get me wrong--I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! But I would "pad up" for training religiously. It's TRAINING. No one cares what you look like in training!
So, may I continue to suggest to GKs and GK parents....please be sure to have in your bag for training, elbow pads, knee pads, and hip padding. Technology in sporting goods has continued to evolve over the years, and today GKs can enjoy light-weight, breathable, high-impact protection for reasonable expense. (By the way, hip and knee replacements run about $60K each) So, PLEASE......when you go out to train--with your team or with your GK Coach--PAD UP!
You may thank me when you're 60! (I'll be dead then, but you know what I'm saying...)
For a wide selection of quality GK on-body padding and base-layer compression garments and gear, go to
www.reuschusa.com
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot straight at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV