Is your MVP ready to take the field? The team has been running drills every morning, and your star is even practicing them at home, along with practicing the authoritative “Omaha” play calls after dinner. But that doesn’t mean they’re ready.
If a player isn’t outfitted in the right gear – he may not be prepared for the first whistle of the season to blow.
Getting the right football performance socks is key to a player’s success. Old socks can become heavy with sweat and weigh your player down. Plus, they don’t offer adequate compression for good blood flow. On the other hand, quality youth football socks are a secret weapon that improves speed and agility.
Here are nine features to look for in football socks that turn up your player’s potential.
How to Know You’re Getting the Best Performance Socks
Shoulder pads and helmets aren’t the only gear that keep players safe and playing in peak form. The right football performance socks are an important addition to any player’s uniform.
Not only do socks keep a player more comfortable, but they might keep him safer than you’d think! The following features are at the top of our list – and they should be on yours, too.
1. Moisture Wicking Fabrics
Tons of athletic brands promise that their products are moisture wicking. But what does that even mean? If you hear the term enough, it starts to sound like just another buzz word.
However, moisture wicking is actually pretty important when it comes to football performance socks. Most moisture wicking socks are made from synthetic fabrics that accomplish two things: they pull sweat away from your body and to the outer layer of the fabric, and then they dry super fast.
The result is a pair of socks that keep a player’s legs relatively cool and dry until the final whistle blows.
Cotton socks can get bogged down with sweat and become heavy. This is uncomfortable, and it also allows bacteria to flourish. It’s easy to see why moisture wicking is one of the most important features to look for in a pair of football socks (we put it at the top of our list for a reason).
2. Double-Welt Tops
The welt of a sock is sometimes called the cuff – it’s the ribbon at the very top that helps a pair of socks stay in place. The welt should be a little tighter than the rest of the sock, but not uncomfortable.
When it comes to football performance, socks with a double welt are better than the rest. Why? They keep a player’s socks from creeping down their calf at an inopportune time.
Imagine your MVP running toward the end zone, only to be distracted by a sagging sock that isn’t going to protect their shin when they dive in. Stick with a double welt for comfort and protection. Of course, make sure the welt isn’t so tight that it cuts off circulation.
3. Breathable Fabrics
Wicking moisture away from your skin is great – but a player could still overheat if they’re not careful. A player that overheats is susceptible to dehydration and other unwanted symptoms.
Breathable fabrics enable air flow that help a body regulate its temperature.
MadSportsStuff football performance socks are made from 77% Polypropylene, which fabric experts like SewPort rate as “very breathable.” In general, fabrics with a looser weave allow for better air flow and will rate as being more breathable. Other breathable fabrics that also wick moisture include nylon and polyester.
Not only do breathable fabrics keep legs cooler on game day, but they provide maximum comfort to players who are under enough stress as it is.
4. Ample Ankle Support
Good socks protect players’ legs from their knees to their toes. And ankles are smack dab in the middle of this important zone.
Look for socks that have ankle and arch compression support. This feature pressures the blood in ankle, foot, and leg veins back up to the heart. Compression socks also reduce ankle fatigue during the game and help keep swelling in check.
5. Tons of Color Options
When it comes to league regulations for football, performance socks must usually adhere to certain rules. Most importantly – they need to match the team uniform’s colors. If a player’s team uniform is black and orange, bright yellow socks are probably considered a distraction.
All of this is to say: make sure the socks you fall in love with have a lot of color options. You don’t want your player to get into trouble on a silly technicality like sock color.
If you run across a type of socks you want in a color that works, consider a bulk order for the entire team! Having color options means you can also get a set to match home game jerseys and a set to go with the away game uniforms.
6. Blister Control
Your number one player is about to receive the ball in the fourth quarter on third down. Almost nothing could get in the way of a game-saving catch. Nothing, that is, except a painful blister.
Landing on a blister can lead to a sting of pain that derails an otherwise perfect play. Stave off blisters by buying football socks with blister control. This nifty feature comes in handy every game.
Football performance socks with blister control tend to be made of cool, light synthetic fabrics. They may also be seamless (sock stitching can really rub a heel the wrong way over the course of a few hours). Blisters make it harder to walk, let alone run or tackle, so take them seriously.
7. Reliable Sizing
Sizing you can trust is another important feature of football performance socks. Socks that run too large will bunch at the toes and make shoes uncomfortable. Socks that fit too snugly are uncomfortable and restrict motion.
Ideally, the socks you buy will be sized based on shoe size. This makes purchasing the right size easy and guarantees the socks won’t be at odds with a player’s cleats.
What’s more, socks that don’t fit can cause nasty blisters. Snug socks rub to hard when the player runs, and big socks bunch up at the heel and the extra fabric is apt to rub against the skin. Football players’ feet are like Goldilocks: they need their socks to be “just right.”
8. Plenty of Leg Coverage
Another hallmark of a good pair of football socks is ample coverage. You want the socks to hit high enough to protect a player’s shins and calves. This isn’t baseball, but sometimes a player will still need to slide.
Whether it’s a running back trying to worm his way beneath a pile at the goal line, or a quarterback sliding into the next first down, sometimes legs come into contact with the grass.
Football performance socks should limit the number of scrapes and cuts a player experiences – even when things get rough.
9. Antimicrobial Fabric
A smelly gym bag is no fun for anyone riding home in the same car with it after the game. Athlete’s foot is no fun, either. Both of these yucky side effects of football play can be mitigated with one important feature: antimicrobial fabric.
Socks with Infused Alphasan Antimicrobials (like the ones from MadSportsStuff) help knock out the bacteria that usually festers on sweaty socks. You should still wash game socks as soon as possible, but this technology helps you avoid some of the odor and bacteria growth.
MadSportsStuff Has Football Performance Socks You’ll Love
Is your kid’s team going for the state championship? Equip them with the best gear to get the job done! Even better, make sure you don’t pay more than you have to add high-performance socks to the uniform.
MadSportsSocks football performance socks are full of the features you need to set your players up for success. A double-welt top, ankle compression support, blister control, and a lightweight design are just the beginning. Our socks are made with love right here in the USA, and comprised of 77% Polypropylene, 17% Nylon, 3% Elastic, and 3% Lycra Spandex. Check out our collection of youth football socks today!
Have questions about ordering? Contact us today to learn more about everything from custom orders to bulk orders!
