4 Sports Equipment And Athletic Apparel Myths, Busted

From the advances in sports equipment to the reasons why team apparel is important, there are many myths when it comes to athletic gear. Let’s take a look at four of the biggest equipment and apparel myths in sports and bust them!

1. Look good, feel better, play (your) best

“Look good, feel good, play good” is a popular mantra in the world of sports, particularly when it comes to athletic apparel. But looking good and feeling good about the way you look, are not mutually exclusive.

Just because you may look good to others, doesn’t mean you necessarily feel good about the way you look — some University of Oregon football players probably agree. Think about the days when your mother used to dress you. She loved the way you looked; you likely didn’t. And how you feel about yourself — your self-confidence — is an integral component to performing well, especially on the field, court or ice.

There is a personal aspect to looking and feeling good, and that aspect tends to get lost when it comes to outfitting a team. It’s important to find ways to incorporate a personal style into sports equipment, in order to help boost that self-confidence and play at your absolute best.

2. Team apparel is more than team marketing

There seems to be a prevalent theory in some corners that team apparel is only there to attract recruits and that it has no meaning to the actual team. Who doesn’t like free clothing, right?

That is simply not true. Team apparel is actually very meaningful to the team members who wear it, as it breeds a more cohesive unit. The unifying power of wearing a shared color and logo helps to develop a strong identity and build camaraderie between teammates. Custom gear goes a long way to helping players feel like they are a part of something bigger — a group, a collective, a family, a team. And that instills them with pride.

3. Not all equipment is created equal

Shoulder pads are shoulder pads. A stick is a stick. The only difference is what brand name is slapped on the product and what high-priced advertising they put behind it. Right?

Wrong.

Advancements in sports equipment truly are made every day and that means a stick is more than a stick. It’s important to pay close attention to the materials used to make the piece of equipment, as well as the production process.

While it may be hard to distinguish between fact and crafty advertising, there are a few ways for you to tell the difference. Specifically, evidence (are facts backing up claims), testimonials (do you trust who uses the product) and/or common sense. Does a pair of shoes help you play basketball like LeBron James? No. Does a custom, comfortable mouthguard help you communicate more clearly on the court like LeBron James? Absolutely!

4. Young athletes grow too quickly

While it’s no myth that young people outgrow clothing quickly, it’s that perception that has many coaches and athletic trainers less willing to spend money on team equipment. But why sacrifice the protection of your athletes simply because they may be too big for their equipment next season?

Sure, some players may need a new jersey or shoes or helmet as they grow season-to-season, but did you know that the mouth is done growing by the time you’re a freshman in high school? That means the mouthguard you give your player at age 15 still fits the exact same way when that athlete is 18 — especially when their mouthguard is custom-made to fit the exact structure of their mouth.

That’s why all replacement Gladiators are 50% off the base price for the life of the model. That makes your Gladiator more than just a mouthguard, but an investment in your players’ protection.

Bust all those sports equipment myths with Gladiator Custom Mouthguards, the industry-leader in custom mouthguards.

Bust The Myths

Author Bio

Bobbie Quinn, co-founder of Gladiator Custom Mouthguards, played both lacrosse and field hockey as a youth and went on to play Division 1 women’s lacrosse in college. Bobbie continues to play women’s league field hockey and enjoys watching her son play various sports.