Why do goalkeepers wear long sleeves

But in late , Mathieu Flamini was fed up with sleeves. We know where Mathieu Flamini comes down on the long sleeve vs short sleeve jerseys debate. So in matches against Manchester United and Marseille, when the rest of the Arsenal XI wore long sleeves, Flamini crudely cut the sleeves off his jersey.

Kit man Vic Akers was not pleased and reportedly had some heated words for the French midfielder. Even former Arsenal legend Lee Dixon became embroiled in the row, coming out in favor of short sleeves but chastising Flamini for not just rolling his damn sleeves up like a normal person. But the whole episode was a reminder of the constant struggle for some players to wear jerseys with long sleeves vs. Many teams allow players to wear either long or short sleeves at their discretion.

Some have strict protocols. Does it matter? Should we care? One advantage for short sleeve jerseys vs. Photo : LFC Twitter. While Arsenal has a procedure in place for determining who wears what sleeves on a given match day, most players make the choice themselves.

But the long sleeve vs short sleeve jerseys issue can have an effect on performance on the pitch. While short sleeves are, generally, cooler for the player as there is less clothing, long sleeves can help a player cool off more quickly with moisture-wicking technology. Unlike in the olden days when jerseys were made out of wool, modern uniforms are made out of materials that absorb sweat to allow the moisture to evaporate quickly.

Thus, long sleeves can prevent players from becoming bogged down in a swampy sweat mess. The issue is different for goalkeepers, who almost always wear long sleeves and pants. This has a few benefits. First, goalkeepers are more likely to be sprawling out on their arms, so long sleeves protect their appendages from scrapes and bruises.

Additionally, most modern goalkeeper jerseys have a little extra padding on the arms. Also, it makes the goalie slightly larger, which could possibly help save a shot but in reality has a greater psychological effect on the opposing striker than anything. Some goalkeepers wear different uniforms for practical reasons, while others do it to enhance their personal style and perhaps intimidate their competitors.

Goalkeepers also wear long socks that cover shin guards, which protect the lower legs from blows during skirmishes near the goal. This helps the referee distinguish the goalkeeper from other players when everyone is crowded near the goal. Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to handle the ball during regular game play, so being able to clearly identify the goalkeeper helps prevent mistaken declarations of illegal handballs.

Although it has not been proven to be true, there is a common belief that an attacker unconsciously shoots the ball at the brightest area of the goal. If this is true, then wearing a bright shirt increases the chance that an attacker will aim the ball directly at the goalkeeper, leading to an easy save. This is why some professional goalkeepers wear bright, garish shirts, though personal style preferences also play a role.

Most leagues allow goalies some flexibility in choice of uniform and equipment. For example, many goalies wear special gloves so they can grasp the ball firmly.