How to Repair Goalkeeper Gloves | EliteSport

If you are a goalkeeper and you have a pair of gloves that you’ve had for a long time, or you have a new pair that has already started to wear, you may want to learn about how you can prolong the life of these gloves and how to repair them if needed.

Goalkeeper gloves come in many different shapes and forms. As a result, the steps you take to protect the different types of gloves vary. While there are a few ways in which you can repair some flaws that have developed in your goalie gloves, this should only really be done if you are using the gloves for training.

If you are trying to play matches with these flawed goalkeeper gloves, then some issues may arise that could impact your performance and harm your team’s fortunes. Therefore, you need to be careful about when you repair your gloves and buy a new pair of gloves.

This article will give you a good insight as to when gloves can be repaired, what steps you can take to do so, and some tips to help protect your gloves a bit better in the future.

When to repair goalkeeper gloves

A lot of goalkeepers like to have a few different types of goalkeeper gloves. Some will only use particular gloves for training and another pair for matches. Usually, it will be their good pair used for tournaments, with the worn-out pairs being reserved for training. This will help to protect the grip of the game day gloves as much as possible.

The amount of repair you can do on a given set of goalkeeper gloves will depend on whether they are a game day pair or a training pair of goalkeeper gloves. You should only conduct minor repairs on your game day goalkeeper gloves. If you have a significant hole or the grips have been drastically worn away, you will be better off using these gloves for training instead and just buying a new pair of goalkeeper gloves for games.

If it is only a small issue, then you may be able to conduct some repairs. If your training goalkeeper gloves are the issue, you will be able to get away with performing more extensive repairs. This will give you more bang for your buck with that given pair, and they should last you a while longer before they need to be replaced.

A temporary fix

Naturally, there will be a lot of wear and tear on goalkeeper gloves due to the nature of the position. The soft latex on the fingers and palms can easily be scratched, scuffed, and ripped. While this type of material is ideal for catching balls, it is not overly durable in the long term, particularly if you are not taking care of them properly. Naturally, over time that wears and tears in latex foam will develop.

A temporary fix for tears in the goalkeeper gloves can be deployed by using some shoe glue. This should be done carefully, and this is only a quick solution. If you are training a couple of days before a game and your gloves tear, this solution should help you play the game. It will then buy you a bit of time to do your research and choose a new pair of goalkeeper gloves that you are going to buy.

How to repair goalkeeper gloves

As mentioned, shoe glue can be a useful tool if there is a tear in your goalkeeper gloves. While this is a temporary solution, it can hold you in good stead when dealing with tight timelines. Here is a step-by-step process of how you can conduct small repairs on your goalkeeper gloves:

• Place a tiny drop of shoe glue into the site of the tear in the goalkeeper gloves. You do not need any more glue than that. This is because the latex material absorbs any liquids quickly.
• If you place too much of the glue into the tear, this will cause the region around the tear to start to harden. This will make the goalkeeper gloves more susceptible to further damage in the future.
• Evenly spread the small drop of glue across the surface of the tear. Use a tool to do so, not your hands. A screwdriver can be a useful tool for doing so. Make sure that the glue is evenly pressed all around the edges of the tear in particular.
• You should then bring the tear together, pressing and holding either side of the tear for several minutes. If you let go of the gloves too soon, this will not allow the glue to set, and then a weak repair will be the result. If possible, a heavy object can be used to ensure that the affected area is held together until the glue has had time to set fully.
• Allow the glue to set for several hours and preferably leave them overnight without using them. Certain types of shoe glue will set faster than others, so ensure you properly read the instructions before use. It is better to leave the gloves a bit longer to ensure that the glue has fully set.
• Try out the gloves once you have let enough time for the glue to set. Practice throwing and catching with a ball to see if the grip has been altered. If the tear is on an area where there are many flexings, such as the palm or knuckles, you may need to apply a bit more glue to this area. Otherwise, a new pair of gloves will usually be needed.

Properly care for your gloves.

To lower the probabilities of tears occurring or to look after your gloves a bit better after having repaired them, there are a few easy steps that you can follow.

When you get a new pair of goalkeeper gloves, you will want to gently wash goalkeeper gloves grip with warm water to prepare them for use. It is essential that after every time of service that you properly clean and dry your gloves. Even though you will probably be tired after the session or game, this process will pay off in the long term.

No matter the conditions, they still need a light wash under a tap to remove any surface dirt. There are specialized cleaning gels that can be used if there is a lot of dirt on them. However, don’t scrub too hard, or else you will start cleaning away the grip.

You should then properly dry your goalkeeper gloves and remove all excess water. Please do not put them directly beside a heat source such as a radiator or placing them in the dryer. This will cause long-term damage to the foam.

It would be best if you hung up the gloves on a clothesline to allow proper airflow to dry the whole glove naturally. Some people like to put some old newspapers inside of the glove to help with the drying process. It would help if you stored the gloves in a cold environment with the palms facing one another.