Why Do Goalkeepers Spit On Their Gloves?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
February 28, 2011 1:44pm CST
I don't know if this applies to other sports but in soccer I have lost count of how many goalkeepers spit on their gloves! It doesn't matter which league they're in..whether it's the Premiership or non-league, ALL goalies seem to spit on each glove, then smack their hands together as if to motivate themselves. It's very strange and happens whenever there is a set piece like a free kick, corner or even a penalty.
Does anybody know why they do this? I guess it's better than spitting on the ground but my gut-feeling is they do it for another reason other than to let rip with the gozz..is it to increase the likelihood of the football sticking to the gloves when they try to make a save?
I hope someone has the answer to my question as it's been bugging me for quite some time!
1 person likes this
8 responses
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
28 Feb 11
Now that's a very good question. Back in the early days of football the famous Welsh goalkeeper, Ewen gonletonein, was so fanatical about always being ready to save the ball that he never took his gloves off. He lived at home with his mother who made him his favourite sticky toffee pudding every day. Of course with his gloved fingers he couldn't help but get sticky toffee everywhere. Not unreasonably, opposing teams felt that a goalie with sticky fingers would have an unfair advantage. So as a goodwill gesture he always tried to lick his gloves clean before a match. Unfortunately Ewen was killed in the Great Goal Post Disaster of 1905 and as a tribute to him goalkeepers ever since have spat on and licked their gloves whenever they play. Most of them don't know why. But it's considered bad luck not to.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 11
Really? That's fascinating. I bow down to your Fountain of Knowledge my friend!
I shall no longer stay awake at night wondering why goalies gozz on their gloves lol.
I shall no longer stay awake at night wondering why goalies gozz on their gloves lol.
@SViswan (12051)
• India
1 Mar 11
I have no answer for this one. The Cricket World Cup matches are going on and my son just asked me the other day...why they were spitting on the ball. Are they trying to clean it? Because...the cricketers then rub the ball on their clothes!
I'm going to be watching this space to see if anyone's got a valid answer :)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 11
Are they playing with the white ball? I should know because we watched India v England the other day and I can't remember the colour of the ball!
I know they spit on the red ball to get it to shine on one side..but if they are spitting on a white ball, I really have no idea why they are doing it!
I know they spit on the red ball to get it to shine on one side..but if they are spitting on a white ball, I really have no idea why they are doing it!
@browneyedgirl (1264)
• United States
28 Feb 11
I think they do it in an effort to intimidate the other goalie into being afraid to touch the ball. :}
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 11
Yes, it could be just a habit..once they start they can't stop lol.
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
28 Feb 11
Habit and I think they think it will help stick the ball to their gloves. I've seen baseball players do the same with their gloves. I use to play softball and I don't think spitting in my glove helped. You either caught it or you didn't... And when I didn't, the coach yelled a lot...
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 11
LOL! Could it be (dare I say it) a "bloke" thing? It seems that way to me!
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
28 Feb 11
I truly think it is a "bloke" thing...kind of like constantly adjusting the "protective gear". But I have seen women who play different sports spit on their gloves/hands, spit sunflower seeds, spit, adjust their bra straps...just not as much as blokes.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
1 Mar 11
When it comes to football I am a layman.In my humble opinion,it is a subconsciousness movement on account of either nervousness or excitement.If not spitting on gloves may increase frictional force between the ball and gloves in case the ball slips out of hand.Strange to say,here there is a idiom called "tuo, shou, ke ,de".tuo shou ,means spitting on hand.The main point of idiom is to be extremely easy to obtain.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
1 Mar 11
Yes, I had thought of the "nervousness" thing but I still think it's probably pointless to do it as far as the efficiency of saving a ball is concerned.
Just ask our goalie, he knows!
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
28 Feb 11
Bad hygiene, lol.. Not sure I think it is simply out of habit. So I searched the toolbar, and no reward came from it..lol
I read that most do it to make the glove deeper, softer and easier to cuff the ball. But according to the articles I just read they are not suppose to do that as it ruins the material of the glove.
But with the big bucks they make apparently they do not care because they get loads of them. lol
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
28 Feb 11
That's what I thought. It seems an odd thing to do if there isn't a reason for it. Thanks for that.
