Goalkeeper Gloves: The Basics
Glove Selection
Selecting the perfect glove is unique to each player. The most important thing when selecting a glove is getting the correct fit. Each brand and style will vary in fit and grip style which is a personal preference but getting the size will help the performance of the gloves. Make sure when selecting a size there is no more than a pinch of excess length in the finger tips, similar to how you check if your shoes are the correct size.
Quality and Cost
Unfortunately, gloves are like race car tires, the better quality the glove, the softer the latex, and therefore they will tend to fall apart quicker. Gloves can become expensive, so if you are buying a top end glove for games it is important to take good care of them and limit the wear and tear on them.
One way to maximize a pair of gloves lifetime is to buy two pairs, one cheaper pair for trainings and one pair for games. This way you can extend the life and performance of your game glove by not training in them.
Once it is time for a new game pair, you can start a rotation. Turn the old game gloves into practice gloves and buy a new pair strictly for games.
Glove Maintenance
The most important piece to making your gloves last long and to maximize your grip is to wash your gloves regularly. Glove latex foam is porous. Once dirt gets into the foam it won’t function as well, so keeping them clean will help maintain their grip.
The easiest way to wash your gloves is to toss them into the washing machine with towels or soccer gear on a gentle cycle. Just make sure the Velcro is done up so you don’t snag anything. Use just a small amount of soap, and make sure the soap gets fully rinsed out. Once they are done in washing, DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DRYER, let them hang dry in a spot away from heat and sunlight.
Goalkeepers should wash their gloves every other week is they are using them regularly. If they get really muddy, hand rinse them before they dry out to get as much of the dirt out as possible then toss them in the wash for a normal cleaning.