In soccer, players wear colored jerseys to spot who is on their side and who isn’t. That’s the simplest answer, but there’s more about the jersey color!
Also, you might’ve noticed that the goalies always wear different colors from the rest of the team. Have you been thinking, why do goalies wear different colors?
The goalies wear different color jerseys to avoid confusion since there is a difference between the goalies and the player’s restrictions of using the ball.
Not enough for your query, right? Dive down to learn more about the distinction of colors in soccer.
Why Do Goalies Wear Different Colors?
The goalies wear different color jerseys to tell them apart from other players. You see, goalies can touch the ball with their hands, but others can’t.
If goalies had the same colors as others, then everyone would have looked the same. So there would be no way referees could see if it’s a goalie or a field player who saved the ball that was going into the goal.
Soccer is a fast game, so fast that it’s hard to see what happens around. But a referee has to look everywhere, not only where the ball is. They even have to see if someone acts mean when no one is looking because it can be punished too.
So it helps when a goalie stands apart from others. That way, a referee will know when a field player cheats by handling the ball. To sum up, it’s the speed that counts, and it’s not only the players who have to be fast.
What Color Can Soccer Goalies Wear?
The goalies can wear any color they like. Except they can’t look the same as the other players or the referees. The rules say so because goalies have an unusual job on the soccer field. They are really not like everybody else, so they need to stand out.
But it actually comes down to the personality of each goalie to find their style. Some might go for a road-workers style with bright safety vests, but others go further.
As far as the rules go, you can dress in any color you like. It doesn’t matter. The only thing the rules care about is safety and being different, so players can be creative.
Which Is the Best Color for Soccer Goalies?
Magenta is the best color for soccer goalies, which is a bright pink color. It’s the best because it’s the opposite of green. So when goalies play, they stand out from the background well.
Some time ago, but after the dinosaurs, goalies often wore red. It’s because back then, the fields weren’t always bright green but were darker.
After all, it’s difficult to maintain the grass when so many people run over it all the time. And since the opposite of dark green is red, that’s what goalies often wore in the past. But now it’s magenta or pink.
Many goalies used to wear dark gray colors, but not because they liked it. It was about money. In the past, even big clubs didn’t have much money to spend on their uniforms.
So, for example, FC Barcelona had their uniform made out of the material for bed mattresses. That’s how they got their colors: blue and garnet, which looks like pomegranate.
Other teams were much less imaginative and bought the cheapest. And white jerseys were the cheapest because they didn’t need any coloring.
To stand apart among players dressed in white, goalies chose a darker gray or black color. It wasn’t a problem in the past when referees wore striped black and white uniforms. Now, refs wear dark gray jerseys themselves, so goalies really have to find a style to stand apart.
Can Goalkeepers Wear the Same Color?
Yes, the goalkeepers can wear the same colors as the players. It says so in the rules, but it’s not a normal situation.
Sure, the rules try to ensure goalies stand out from everybody else. The problem is teams wear bright uniforms anyway, so the field looks like a living and running salad.
And if a game could start only when goalies had super-unique uniforms, then what game would ever start? So the rules say outright that if the opposing goalies look the same, then let’s just play already.
How Do Soccer Goalies Choose Their Color?
The goalies tell uniform makers what colors they like best. You see, most teams have three types of uniforms. One would be their main uniform, with their team colors. But then they would have a backup uniform when they cannot wear the main.
It can happen when they play outside their home field, so their rivals choose the colors first. And if the rivals prefer similar colors, the team has to choose their backup.
Even so, sometimes both the main and the backup uniforms look too close to the opponents. For these occasions, teams have their third uniform, which often looks like a safety vest. But it’s just for show.
Can Soccer Goalies Wear Different Colored Gloves?
The soccer goalies can wear different colored gloves. However, it’s much stranger than that. You see, they can even wear oven gloves because the rules don’t mention gloves at all. Goalies can play without them, and they do at times.
Additionally, They actually don’t need them during penalties because they don’t have to catch and hold the ball. All they need to do is kick it away with fists so it won’t go into the goal.
They may try doing it without gloves if they want. And if they succeed, it seems like it works. It actually did happen to work in the past, most famously at UEFA Euro 2004. That time the Portuguese goalie saved a penalty, and his team moved on to the semi-finals.
FAQs
1. Why do goalkeepers wear pink?
The goalkeepers wear pink to stand out on the green background of a soccer field. Technically, it’s magenta, but it looks like pink.
It’s unique because it’s the opposite of the bright green of the soccer field. So goalies stand out big time, and their teammates and refs always know where they are.
2. Why do goalkeepers wear bright colors?
The goalkeepers wear bright colors so that the referees and teammates can quickly spot them. When a goalie moves away from the goal to catch the ball, their teammates can see this happen.
Conclusion
So it’s like that. Goalies wear different colors to help referees spot cheaters. But it’s not only about refs, it helps their team spot them during tough plays. As far as specific colors go, the sky’s the limit, and goalies can choose their favorite color.
They can even wear a funny uniform, maybe a bunny, as long as it’s safe for others. But the best color is magenta because it’s the opposite of bright green.
The trick is it makes them stand out on the field. And when a goalie likes some color, they can just say so to the uniform makers, and it’s done. It won’t be a big problem for jersey makers since teams have three uniform versions.
So goalies can have their unique style, and that’s every single time. Last but not least, the most interesting thing about goalies has to do with their gloves. They are not mentioned in the rules: not a word.
