Planning a Football Training and Competition Season Football Attire Football Attire Players must wear appropriate football attire to train and compete successfully. Inappropriate uniforms and equipment can impact a player’s ability to play the game and, in some cases, may be a safety hazard. Teams dressed in goodlooking and properly-fitted uniforms are more likely to be motivated to train and play as a team. DRESS LIKE A WINNER ... PLAY LIKE A WINNER! Appropriate football attire is required for all competitors. As coach, discuss the types of sport clothes that are acceptable and not acceptable for training and competition. Discuss the importance of wearing properly fitted clothing, along with the advantages and disadvantages of wearing certain types of clothing during training and competitions. For example, long-pant jeans to blue-jean shorts are not proper football attire for any event. Explain that they cannot perform their best while wearing jeans that restrict their movement. Take athletes to high school or collegiate matches and point out the attire being worn. You can even set the example by wearing appropriate attire to training and competitions and not rewarding athletes that come improperly dressed to train and/or compete. Shirts Shirts are best when they are loose fitting and made of light material. Short-sleeved shirts are recommended for warm weather. The player’s number is required on the back of the shirt in all official competitions. Shorts Shorts that are made of light, water-resistant nylon/polyester and have plenty of leg room are best. Male players, particularly those with slower motor skills, are encouraged to wear a protective athletic cup. 24 Special Olympics Football Coaching Guide Created: February 2004