Effect of boot shape on performance and perception of football movements

Football boots are an important interface between a player and a playing surface. Whilst much research addresses the outsole and stud-surface interaction, boots must also support interactions between a player’s foot, insole, and upper, to ensure performance and comfort. Foot morphology comprises inter- and intra-individual variation; sex and ethnicity are key factors of this. Thus, for mass-produced boots, foot morphology variation can lead to a suboptimal fit and discomfort; 76% of footballers experience discomfort around the heel region alone. The understanding of boot shape on the performance and perception of football movement is limited. This study assessed the effect of boot shape for individuals with wide feet on the performance and perception of football movement tasks.