Yeah, it's only mid-July; but it's time to begin thinking about pre-season training which is approaching for most college teams across the US within the next 4 or 5 weeks. So, let's discuss some GK gear that you should have for pre-seasons.
1. Training gloves: These should be a glove that has a denser foam palm, and should have some sort of hand protection. We suggest our Waorani R1 Ortho-Tec gloves as they provide a good solid foam palm that will last and be serviceable on any playing/training surface. (Be sure to always wash your gloves after each training session!)
2. Compression base-layer: Every GK should wear compression base-layer clothing. The compression gear helps keep your muscles warm and your tendons supple and helps protect from injury. Compression gear should be worn under your training shorts and training jersey.
3. Long sleeve jerseys: These should ALWAYS be worn when you are training "in earnest". By that I mean training where you are going to ground repeatedly. You should warm up in your shorts and short-sleeves, and then when it comes time to train hard, put on your long gear. i.e.; long sleeve jerseys and long or 3/4 length pants.
4. Long pants: These can also be 3/4 length pants. A GK who begins to train in earnest, should always have long sleeves and long pants to train in. Padded pants, preferably. Again, these should be carried in your bag, and then put on when GK training begins 'in earnest' in goal.
Have your shin guards handy in case you begin to play in small-sided games or begin breakaway training. Also, you should have available elbow and knee pads to put on if you are training on very hard ground. It's training! Forget about how you look! Make sure you are protected. And it's going to be HOT. And you are going to SWEAT. Have plenty of water for re-hydrating, and be sure to take frequent breaks for drinking and replenishing liquids.
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV
1. Training gloves: These should be a glove that has a denser foam palm, and should have some sort of hand protection. We suggest our Waorani R1 Ortho-Tec gloves as they provide a good solid foam palm that will last and be serviceable on any playing/training surface. (Be sure to always wash your gloves after each training session!)
2. Compression base-layer: Every GK should wear compression base-layer clothing. The compression gear helps keep your muscles warm and your tendons supple and helps protect from injury. Compression gear should be worn under your training shorts and training jersey.
3. Long sleeve jerseys: These should ALWAYS be worn when you are training "in earnest". By that I mean training where you are going to ground repeatedly. You should warm up in your shorts and short-sleeves, and then when it comes time to train hard, put on your long gear. i.e.; long sleeve jerseys and long or 3/4 length pants.
4. Long pants: These can also be 3/4 length pants. A GK who begins to train in earnest, should always have long sleeves and long pants to train in. Padded pants, preferably. Again, these should be carried in your bag, and then put on when GK training begins 'in earnest' in goal.
Have your shin guards handy in case you begin to play in small-sided games or begin breakaway training. Also, you should have available elbow and knee pads to put on if you are training on very hard ground. It's training! Forget about how you look! Make sure you are protected. And it's going to be HOT. And you are going to SWEAT. Have plenty of water for re-hydrating, and be sure to take frequent breaks for drinking and replenishing liquids.
May the ground beneath your dive be soft. May the other team shoot right at you. May your goalposts be 3 feet wide.
All the Best--EV