By Gabriel Luis (@gabelun):
Soccer is often regarded as a “poor man’s sport” mainly because a lot of professional players come from poor neighborhoods in other countries.
It also doesn’t require much to replicate games because they can be played using home-made goals and sometimes don’t require an actual soccer ball.
As for the footwear worn in soccer, it happens to be one of the major components of the game at the upper level.
“They’re (shoes) everything,” said San Jose State senior forward Jeremy Romero.
“The game won’t be the same [without them].”
For players like Romero and freshman midfielder Kalei Tolentino-Perry, the right boots can make the difference between someone having a good or bad performance.
“Without cleats, you’re a player who isn’t ready to play,” Tolentino-Perry said.
Cleats can run a big tab for some individuals, however, as some high-end kicks
can be priced around $250 and up.
In some cases, players have spent upwards of $900 on footwear in one season, showing that price alone can force some to resort to other options.
“When I was very young, all I had was baseball cleats,” Romero said. “I used that for the first good year or two.”
Romero continued to explain his lack of knowledge when he was younger and that he did not know how to go about purchasing boots and turned to baseball cleats which use metal studs unlike most firm-ground soccer cleats.
“I didn’t really know how to play and stuff like that,” Romero said. “[The cleats] would have metal studs for the sand.”
Tolentino-Perry had a slightly different take on it, coming from the state of Hawaii.
“When I was younger, it [had] a lot to do with barefoot playing pickup games at the park,” Tolentino-Perry said.
Tolentino-Perry also discussed his family and how fortunate he was growing up being able to receive clears for each season but still played soccer barefoot when he had the chance.
Playing without proper footwear is often seen as positive thing for soccer players growing up because it allows individuals to work on the fundamentals in a challenging environment.
In any facet of life, new clothes come with a sense of confidence.
“If you look good, you feel good,” Tolentino-Perry said.
He talked about how his perception of cleats have changed over time focusing more on comfort and performance rather than looks.
Romero agreed with Tolentino-Perry as both mentioned high school was a time when they believed they were cool because of the cleats they wore.
“If [the cleat] best fits me, and I play comfortably, and I play well in them then, that’s what matters,” Tolentino-Perry said.
It is clear to see there has been mental growth for the athletes, as they have changed their perceptions of not only themselves, but of their role on the team regardless of the footwear being worn.
“As you get older, whatever is the most comfortable or whatever feels the best, that’s probably the one that’s best for you,” Romero said.