Field Players

1.   Wear field gloves. If your hands are warm, you feel warm all over.

2.   Wear multiple layers under your jersey. Don’t overdo it, however, since things heat up quickly once the game begins. One tee-shirt or a turtleneck is usually enough.

3.   Wear a turtleneck. Long-sleeves are okay for cold weather, but short-sleeves are better for playing in the rain. There is nothing worse than playing with sopping-wet sleeves. Some people cut off the long sleeves and reattach them with velcro. DON’T wear a sweatshirt with long sleeves under your jersey. It’s too hot and, if it is raining, the sleeves soak up a lot of water.)

4.   Wear bicycle (compression, Skidz, F&Gs, etc.) shorts.

5.   If you don’t have bicycle shorts or tights, wear a second pair of shorts under your tournament shorts.

6.   Wear full-length tights. (They have to “match” the uniform color, but all-black is hard for a referee to say “no” to.) No lace or frill, however.

7.   For play in actual rain, the best next-to-skin layer is a polypropylene (or other modern synthetic material with wicking action) undergarment. These are typically sold in hiking/camping stores such as Eddie Bauer or REI.

8.   Keep your jersey tucked into your shorts so that the cold wind can’t sneak in.

9.   Waterproof your boots before the game to keep your feet dry as long as possible.

10. Change anything that is wet at half-time or when you are waiting to sub in. Change your socks if you have spares. But remember, half-time is only 5-10 minutes long. Sometimes it takes that long just to get wet shoelaces untied.

11. Keep warm when you are waiting to substitute in. Wear a jacket, wear a hat (can’t play in it), and wrap yourself in a blanket or plastic garbage bag. Stand under an umbrella.

12. Put a thin layer of lip balm, Chapstick, or Vaseline on your lips as insulation from the cold. (Keep a small tube of it in your soccer bag.)

13. Drink something warm at half-time.

 Goalkeepers

Goalkeepers don’t move as much and have their own tricks for staying warm.

1.   Bring a pair of spare dry goalkeeper gloves in a plastic bag to the goal. Change your gloves when they soak through and your hands feel wet.

2.   Wear an extra layer under your goalkeeper jersey. If you are clever, you’ll be able to strip off one layer when it becomes muddy, leaving another clean layer to play in.

3.   Wear long sliding pants.

4.   If it is raining, wear a plastic garbage bag between your undergarment and your goalkeeper jersey. Just punch holes for your hands and head and slip in on. This won’t show, but you will stay toasty warm and dry.

5. Wear a permitted cap even if there is no sun. (Field players are not permitted to wear caps.)