Kit (association football) facts for kids
In association football, a kit (also called a strip or uniform) means the clothes and equipment players wear during a match. The official rules of the game say what each player must wear on the pitch. These rules make sure players stay safe from injury. Competitions also set rules about colours so that players and referees can tell the two teams apart.
Footballers wear identifying numbers on the backs of their jerseys. Long ago, starting lineups just wore numbers 1 to 11 based on where they played. Today, professional players get a personal squad number for the whole season. Their shirts also usually feature their last names above their numbers. Over time, football clothing has changed from heavy cotton and leather into lightweight gear designed for speed.
Contents
Essential Soccer Equipment for Players
Law 4 of the official rules lists five basic pieces of gear that every outfield player must use. These items keep the game fair and safe.
The five required items are:
- A shirt (often called a jersey) with sleeves
- Shorts
- Long socks (or stockings)
- Sturdy footwear, usually studded boots
- Protective shin pads
Shin guards must be completely hidden beneath the player's socks. They are made of plastic or rubber to protect the lower legs from hard kicks. Outfield players wear matching team colours. Goalkeepers must dress in different colours from everyone else so the referee spots them easily. Goalkeepers can also wear tracksuit bottoms instead of shorts.
Choosing Team Colours and Away Strips
When two teams have matching colours, the visiting side changes into an away kit to avoid confusion. Some clubs even have a third kit ready. The England national team famously won the 1966 FIFA World Cup wearing their red away kit. During the 1974 FIFA World Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Dutch national team wore alternate colours to stop visual clashes.
National teams often wear national colours linked to their history. The Italy national team wears blue from the old House of Savoy. The Dutch team wears orange in honor of the House of Orange. Modern jerseys use breathable polyester mesh. This special fabric helps players stay cool by pulling sweat away from the skin.
Specialized Footwear and Extra Gear
Players wear specialized boots with studs on the bottom. These studs help them grip grass without slipping. Famous boot designs like the Adidas Predator, created with help from player Craig Johnston, introduced rubber ridges for better ball control.
Goalkeepers wear padded gloves to cushion their hands and catch spinning balls. In an exciting match at UEFA Euro 2004, Portugal keeper Ricardo took off his gloves during a penalty shoot-out and saved a shot! Field players with poor eyesight can wear soft contact lenses or secure sports glasses. Dutch star Edgar Davids wore famous protective goggles because of an eye condition called glaucoma. Players like Petr Čech and Cristian Chivu wore soft headgear to protect against head injuries. Any item that could hurt another player, like jewelry, is completely banned.
Match Officials and Referees
Match officials include the head referee, assistant referees, and the fourth official. Decades ago, referees actually wore a suit blazer on the field! Later, black shirts became standard, earning the referee the nickname "the man in black." At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, tournament organisers introduced bright shirts like yellow and red so officials stood out clearly.
The History of Football Uniforms
The very first record of football footwear dates back to 1526 in the royal wardrobe of King Henry VIII of England. Centures later, students at English public school football games began wearing matching clothes. In the 1840s, teams at Winchester College and Rugby football schools used coloured jerseys and caps to tell teammates apart.
The Victorian Era
When organized association football began in the 1860s, players wore whatever they owned. Teammates often wore matching hats or scarves to tell each other apart. In an 1860 match against Hallam, the Sheffield team wore scarlet and white caps.
Soon, early clubs started choosing official squad colours. Blackburn Rovers picked blue and white inspired by Malvern College. Instead of modern shorts, men played in baggy knickerbockers or long trousers held up by a belt or braces. Lord Kinnaird was famous for playing in long white trousers. In 1874, Nottingham Forest star Sam Weller Widdowson invented shin pads by cutting down old cricket pads. At first, other athletes laughed at him, but players soon realized shin guards prevented painful bruises.
The Twentieth Century
Football grew rapidly worldwide during the early 1900s. Clubs in other countries copied British styles. In 1903, Juventus in Italy chose black-and-white stripes inspired by Notts County. In 1905, Argentina's team Club Atlético Independiente copied the red shirts of Nottingham Forest.
Shorts became shorter in 1904 after the Football Association changed the rules. Goalkeepers were ordered to wear unique tops, and green became the most popular goalie colour. During the 1933 FA Cup Final, Everton and Manchester City tried out shirt numbers from 1 to 22. Numbers soon became permanent, with number 9 typically worn by the central striker.
Sports brand Adidas changed boot design in 1954 by creating low-cut footwear with screw-in studs. These new boots weighed far less than rigid older boots, helping players run faster and kick more accurately.
The Modern Era of Kits
In the 1970s, teams began selling replica kits to ordinary fans. Leeds United was one of the first clubs to offer replicas in stores. Teams also began signing deals to show company logos on the front of their shirts. While clubs like FC Bayern Munich earned large sums from sponsors, other teams like FC Barcelona long refused commercial sponsors and later carried the charity name UNICEF.
During the 1970 FIFA World Cup, superstar Pelé wore famous boots made by Puma. In 1974, Dutch legend Johan Cruijff famously insisted on wearing special two-striped gear that matched his personal sponsor.
Uniform fashions continued to evolve over the decades. Shorts were extremely short during the 1970s and 1980s. At the 1991 FA Cup Final, Tottenham Hotspur showed up in long, baggy shorts made by Umbro. Other teams quickly followed this trend. By the 1994 FIFA World Cup, loose kits had become popular everywhere.
Today, kit sales make up a massive part of modern soccer culture. When superstar David Beckham joined Real Madrid, supporters bought over one million jerseys within six months. Historic jerseys are now valuable treasures. The match shirt worn by Pelé in the 1970 final sold at an auction for over £150,000! Modern kit designs keep improving every year, helping football athletes run fast, play hard, and look sharp on the field.
Images for kids
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Sheffield rules requiring coloured caps
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The Argentina national team in 1964
See also
In Spanish: Equipamiento de los futbolistas para niños
- Retro kit
- Shirt swapping
- History of association football
