Shorts: Soccer was originally played in street clothes. Eventually shorts replaced slacks because they were far easier to kick in.
Women were originally required to wear long bloomeers to keep their legs covered. Fortunately that changed during World War II.
Shoes: In the late 1800s, most people wore their everyday shoes to play soccer. Until the 1930s, soccer players wore heavy high-top shoes that resembled boots. Nails were sometimes pounded into the bottom for extra tracition. Later, leather or rubber cleats were nailed to shoes. Modern shoes have built in cleats.
| Shin Guards: Shin guards are now mandatory soccer equipment. The first shin pads were made of leather and worn outside the socks. They were fastned with straps and buckles and were heavy and stiff. Today's high tech shin guards like those to the right are worn under socks. |  |
Caps: Caps were an important part of early soccer attire. Teams wore their colors on their caps. The only way to tell the goalkeeper was by his different colored head gear. Ceremonial caps were also awarded to players who represented their country in national competitions. These ornate caps often had the match score embroidered on them.
Jerseys: Today, team colors are displayed on jerseys and shorts rather than caps. Goalkeepers must wear a jersey that is different from either team and the officials. This lends itself to some very colorful goalie atire.
