Inside Hockey’s Hidden Challenge: Wet Shoes, Sore Feet, and How to Fix Them

Harry Gibson is a former International hockey goalkeeper for England and Team GB. Harry represented his country through the age groups and earned 77 caps in the senior team. Harry represented his country at the World Cup and winning a Commonwealth Games bronze medal in Australia in 2018 and retired from the game in 2021. Harry spoke to Save our Soles on the challenges for foot and shoe health in hockey and how vital they both are for performance, longevity and enjoyment in the sport.

Why is foot and shoe health especially important in hockey?

Answer: Hockey is a very agile sport, involving a lot of turning and twisting, which creates a lot of friction through your feet. It places a great deal of stress on your feet due to the hard playing surface and the potential of frequent contact with a hard ball. The game penalises contact of the ball with feet, and the ‘D’ this leads to penalties. As such, particularly at the highest levels, it can be the intention to hit the ball into feet, which can lead to injuries like broken toes, broken soles or severe bruising. In this environment, maintaining good foot health and looking after your shoes is crucial to prevent issues that might curtail your performance or playing career.

What challenges do players face with wet shoes and feet during hockey matches?

The sport is now played almost exclusively on hard surfaces of artificial pitches. At high-level these tend to be water-based astroturf pitches which always results in very wet feet and shoes, which can become completely sodden by the end of a game. The difficulty of drying these shoes efficiently can cause them to remain damp, creating an ideal environment for bacteria that may negatively affect foot health. It is common for the players to never play in completely dry shoes due to inefficiencies of drying them in the home or the club changing rooms on radiators and newspaper. The shoes themselves do not have waterproofing or airiness as a priority in their design, because stability and protection are more important, adding to the challenge of drying them out.

What are the issues caused by playing in wet shoes?

Because we play ‘on water’, soaking our shoes and feet most of the time, hockey players are particularly prone to issues caused by bacteria building up in shoes that do not dry well. Infections often lead to painful feet and problems that sideline players for periods of time, effecting development and opportunities to get the most of your playing time and career. It’s the most frustrating thing to miss games and training because of avoidable injuries and issues with your feet. Wet shoes also deteriorate more rapidly with bindings glue being eroded when constantly wet.

How does playing in the summer or on synthetic surfaces impact players’ feet?

In the summer, high temperatures and synthetic surfaces generate a lot of heat, causing players’ feet to sweat heavily. If the socks and shoes aren’t dried properly, this can also encourage bacterial growth, which may impact foot health over time.

Why is it particularly important for young players and their parents to care about shoe maintenance?

For young players caring for shoes ensures their long-term use and health. Poorly maintained shoes that don’t dry out properly can deteriorate rapidly, affecting a player’s ability to perform at their best. It can also be a strain on tight family budgets if you have to replace shoes frequently with issues that can be avoided

How can a product like the Atacama shoe dryer benefit hockey players and their families?

I honestly think that for Hockey mums and dads, just like football mums and dads, a shoe dryer designed solely for that purpose, like the Atacama, helps keep their kids happy and healthy on the pitch. It keep shoes dry in a convenient and environmentally acceptable way, saving families money by extending shoe life and promoting better foot health by reducing bacteria. It’s a valuable tool for players, parents, and clubs (every club should have several of these!), helping optimise performance and prolonging longevity of both shoes and playing time!