Men’s Football Footwear for Artificial Surfaces: The Role of Thermoregulation

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Date

2021-06-11

Authors

van der Wende, Willem

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Abstract

As climate change brings warmer temperatures, football pitches across the United States are changing to artificial turf due to lower costs and ease of maintenance (Myrick, 2019). However, for the male elite athlete, artificial surfaces like turf and asphalt become too hot which causes foot discomfort (Dodd, 2020). Between the ages of 16-22, these emerging athletes compete at college showcases, a critical step when competing for limited spots on National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division I football teams. These events are often held during the summer or in locations with warm winter weather. Due to these athlete’s condensed schedules, showcases compound stress on the feet (Dodd, 2020). This stress combined with extreme heat creates a need for thermoregulatory footwear solutions. As global warming becomes a greater issue, heat stresses will incrementally impact aspiring collegiate athletes. By developing a football boot and street football shoe specifically to combat the stress of playing on artificial turf and asphalt, players will be awarded comfort and peace of mind which will allow them to compete at the top of their game.

Description

59 pages

Keywords

Football, Footwear, Thermoregulation, Sports Product Design, Product Design

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