One thing about refereeing lots of games I've always struggled with are shoes. As I understand it, there are effectively three common options, in order of traction: Normal outdoor soccer cleats (I'm including referee-specific Ryal shoes and such here as well) Soccer "turf" cleats - designed for artificial surfaces, but can be worn more places Running/athletic shoes What do you guys tend to use? Do you switch things up based on the weather? On how many games you're doing? My main dilemma is that if I'm doing games all day for a tournament, or a league, wearing cleats all day kills my feet, especially if I have more ARs than CRs, for some reason running up and down the line is worse. It's not as bad for just 1-2 higher level games for an evening. But more comfortable / less traction shoes slip sometimes. Fortunately, I haven't had a ton of incidents, but a couple in the course of a year can be embarrassing. And my "normal" shoes are Brooks which help to not kill my back (I have a not-properly-curved-spine from an old accident), which doesn't apply to style 1 & 2 cleats, they only make running/athletic shoes, although I do have an all-black pair. So what's your preference? Do you have a rotation? Standards you use based on circumstances? Just looking to benefit from/share everyone's experience.
Well, if you want a pair that is best suited for every surface, you get shoes for every surface. I mean if it is frankly wet on grass, nothing will do as well as cleats. but if you want a single pair that is comfortable and gives good traction in all but the worst conditions, get trail runners. A prime example are Salomon speedcross. They are not the lightest but are durable and well made, and have many styles in all black.
See, this is the type of info I need. Didn't even know Salomon speedcross existed, but they do look like a more comfortable shoe with similar (or better) traction to a solid turf cleat.
Based on recommendations here several years ago, I've been using Salomon Speedcross 5 shoes. I long ago aged-out of doing all-day tournaments, but I use these shoes for 2-3 games on hot turf or cold mud or whatever. Far more comfortable than any "soccer" shoes I've use before. I have to worry about plantar fasciitis, so I use sole inserts with these. I've not tried the Gore-Tex models.
I tried cleats and even turf shoes in the past and I hated them. I now only wear running shoes, past few models have been the Brooks Glycerin. Sunny and dry, rainy and wet, turf, grass, doesn't matter, running shoes. I even tried those Adidas mundial team turf shoes that all the refs use, nope, not comofrtable for me.
It all depends on your foot, running style, etc. ikm also a fan of the Salomon trail runners for all surfaces. But every company has slightly different lasts that they use to size and shape their shoes. Finding one that suits your foot is important. One other thought—if doing a number of games, changing shoes is a good idea, as each shoe will have different irritation points.
I would go through a pair of New Balance 412 trail runners in a season. Cheap and very comfortable for my wide feet with good grip but they didn’t last long.
So so true- in a multi game day being able to change your base layer, socks and shoes makes a huge comfort difference.
lol funny thing about wearing stuff half as often means they last twice as long. When it comes to shoes they might actually last longer than twice, and there are other benefits. https://runkeeper.com/cms/health/why-you-should-rotate-your-running-shoes/
Assuming you're making a comfortable amount of profit refereeing, and refereeing is not your only source of income, then it makes financial (and physical) sense to have multiple pairs of refereeing and training shoes. AFAIK, shoes bought solely for refereeing are tax-deductible expenses. Also, as @chwmy posted, changing shoes during periods of heavy volume reduces your own risk of injury and also makes the shoes themselves be "good" for longer. I have 8 pairs of shoes currently that I will use in some context relating to refereeing. For me it's a no-brainer under my circumstances. I use a rotation: Cleats for any "big" game where I want to have secure footing and be explosive. I wear an outdated adidas Copa FG that is no longer in production. Considering switching to the Adidas Copa Icon because I've been hearing good things from refs who have switched. Plus they look great. Running shoes if the pitch conditions make flats+cushioning a safer choice. Like a local game on a turf field that I don't expect to be "too fast." I use New Balance Beacons but they're now out of production. I used to use Adidas boost shoes before they started getting uglier and like $200 a pair. I may need to go back to Adidas boost once my NB Beacons wear out. I may also try to keep some kind of New Balance because they have worked well for me. Different running shoes for training that I do not use on the pitch. I'll wear cleats for field training sessions involving sharp accelerations or movements. I'll wear the same cleats I wear for matches for these sessions. I have a low-heel-toe-drop shoe for gym, sprinting, and lifting sessions. NB Fuelcell Rebel currently (6mm heel toe drop). I land on the balls of my feet when I'm doing high-effort running so that type of shoe works best for me. I use a rotation of NB 1080s and On Cloudmonsters for the longer training runs because I need that sort of cushioning since I live in a city and am mostly running on hard concrete. I'm fortunate enough to not need to referee many back-to-back games anymore, but I'll echo what some posters have mentioned above about the reliability of trail runners. I know a bunch of refs who love them for a slate of games. I also know many referees who swear by Brooks running shoes for their stride pattern (Ghost, Glycerin, or Adrenaline depending on stride pattern). There's no shame in going to an actual running store and getting a legitimate running shoe recommendation by someone qualified to make one. I did that years ago and have been really pleased with the results.
There have been several threads over the last few years that you can do a search for, that seemed to provide good feedback on your questions. Personally, I use the Copa Mundial's for turf as well as grass (as an aside, they went up to $160 recently...they were only $100 a few years ago). I tried running shoes and all-purpose shoes that I use for walking and that I use at the gym. I did not feel I had the ability to stop on a dime as an AR and make good lateral movements, even though my feet said "thank you". As a CR, I did not feel I had the ability to cut and make good runs as I did with the other shoes. It's possible it was psychological, but I doubt it. Admittedly, the ones I wear are not ideal for a 3-game set as these shoes were intended to play for one game and not officiate in. However, they do provide the best comfort for those who really want true "soccer attire". I have no idea how folks I officiate with wear all-purpose shoes or running shoes on grass on slightly muddy fields, unless you're on a pristine field such as Red Bull Arena. They've never gotten hurt somehow. I can't imagine myself officiating on any grass field without good cleats.
Around here, even most "grass" is more akin to tarmac, since venues that can't afford turf also can't afford to amend the clay-rich soil. Studs hurt more than they help. I wore Puma King Turfs when the real ones were available, and went through a series of New Balance and ASICS shoes where the replacement pair was never as good as the first trial. Currently I alternate on turf or better grass between Adidas Terrex trail-runners and Altra Escalantes, leaning to the former when on sloppy/muddy tracks. The Escalantes are ROOMY with a wide toebox, and while the zero heel-drop takes a little getting used to, I like 'em for a light, breathable feel that is totally fine on turf. The Terrex are solid and supportive with good gription at home on "grass" as well as turf.
I too also use the Mundials. Love that kangaroo leather. They feel so good, and provide great traction on most surfaces. Yeah, after the 5th hour of a long day, my feet hurt, but I think that might happen with me anyway. I do bring a pair of running shoes as a backup on those days if it appears my Mundials are the obvious cause of discomfort. at 50 years old with a knee with osteoarthritis that flares up sometimes, I find Ibuprofrin to be my friend.
Where I'm at, we just call that referee candy , although I've found in the last few years that naproxen sodium lasts longer.
50? Youngster. For various reasons, I can't take ibuprofen, aspirin, or naproxen. I have to make do with acetaminophen. Sigh. I used Mundials before switching to Trailrunners. I liked them best in my previous shoe history.
I've worn Mundial's for years (and still do if I only have one or two games), but I got a pair of Adidas Terrex trail shoes last year and I really like them. I wear them for refereeing, hiking, and just about anything else. Even pickleball. So definitely check them out. https://www.adidas.com/us/terrex-swift-r3-gtx/IE7634.html
Oh hey, this is in fact one I was able to find in my size last season. They have treated me well, and I plan to keep using them along with the Umpiros I bought (if they ever ship). The all-black design is, of course, a plus.
I primarily wear cleats for both Center and AR. They make such a huge difference for sprinting and cuts/change of direction. When I'm doing multiple games I'll usually wear my running shoes to the field then if the cleats start hurting my feet I'll change back into the running shoes. Surprisingly I've found the cleats are actually easier on my knees than the running shoes, but the cleats hurt my feet after awhile. Cleats also tighten up my Achilles
Just to contribute to the database… I just started wearing some Salomon xa pros last few games. Excellent traction on grass and turf. Have not been in the rain or muddy yet. Toe box is pretty rigid and the heel doesn’t s narrow so side stepping and cutting doesn’t feel clumsy. Heel is running shoe thick, so it is a heel strike kind of shoe , although “sprinting” (in quotes cuz my sprints are like 3:30min/mile lol) feels fine. Overall positive and allows for more soccer- style movement than other trail runners I’ve tried, with perhaps slightly less traction than the speed cross.
If you can’t take nsaids due to gi issues, you might try celebrex, which is easier on one’s stomach, especially if you combine it with an acid reducer. Might be worth a convo with your doctor. Tylenol doesn’t do much for arthritis pain.
Celebrex is an NSAID, which probably rules it out for me. Everyone's favorite infallible source (Wikipedia) says that the effectiveness of Celebrex against arthritis is similar to that of acetaminophen (aka paracetamol). Thanks for the suggestion, anyway.