Soccer shorts are a standard part of the soccer uniform, known as a “kit”. Soccer shorts range from the shorts worn by professional players to what people wear when playing soccer for fun. Essentially, they are athletic shorts. In the early twentieth century, soccer players wore stockings. Over time, players adopted shorts, which became shorter and shorter through the decades. Today, players do have an option of choosing longer shorts, although many prefer shorter ones.
Why They Help Performance
Most soccer shorts are made with moisture-wicking technology that helps to remove sweat from the body. This is extremely important when playing soccer, a sport that involves a significant amount of running. Soccer shorts are loose enough to provide enough mobility while still tight enough to not affect how you run.
What are They Made of?
Soccer shorts are essentially athletic shorts, and thus made from similar material. Nylon and polyester are popular fabrics, because they combine top notch performance with tremendous comfort. Almost all soccer shorts are equipped with thermal and moisture-wicking properties. This means you can stay cool during hot conditions, and warm during cool conditions.
Washing and Care Instructions
Unfortunately, not all of us are Cristiano Ronaldo, who has equipment managers to keep his soccer uniform nice and clean. Thus, you will have to learn how to wash your soccer shorts yourself. Luckily, soccer shorts are relatively easy to clean. The most important thing you can do is pre-soak. Rinse your shorts after the game to get as much mud and dirt off your shorts as possible and then soak them in a bucket of warm water with one cup of baking soda and a capful of laundry detergent. If you have stains, avoid using chlorine bleach; instead, use all-fabric bleach. Always wash your soccer shorts with the rest of your soccer uniform and no other clothes. Lastly, avoid placing your soccer shorts in the dryer. Allow them to air dry. Make sure they are not hanging in direct sunlight, however, as this may cause the color to fade. Always make sure to check the tag in the back before you wash your shorts, because it may have specific washing instructions.
Who Makes Them?
There are many different brands of soccer shorts, as pretty much all of the major athletic apparel companies manufacture them. If you are not playing soccer professionally, you can wear almost any kind of athletic shorts, such as Nike, Adidas, Reebok, and Under Armor. Adidas was the official sponsor of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, so if you were looking for official soccer shorts from a certain country, Adidas is the brand for you.
Price Range
For the most part, you should be able to find soccer shorts for around $30. Some athletic shorts may be cheaper, while “official” soccer shorts may cost a little bit more. For FIFA merchandise, you may be looking at spending over $80, depending on if the shorts are authentic and if they were game-worn by a certain player. You may be able to find athletic shorts online for cheaper, although ideally you should try them on to make sure they fit and are comfortable to wear.
