Question:
My daughter indicates that some turf in more "sticky" than others. Are there shoes to address this problem? In general is this a problem in sliding?
Answer:
“Sticky” turfs are either water-based turfs that are played on dry or sand-filled turfs. Sliding can be a problem because of the friction created when your body hits the turf. Water lessens the resistance. There’s not a lot you can do about it other than make sure you’re generating speed when you slide. Otherwise, it’s like sliding on fly paper. The bigger issue is footwear when playing upright. Water based turf shoes have lots of little grippy knobs on the bottom, something that’s not usually necessary when playing on dry turf. Flat, rubber soled shoes (like an indoor soccer shoe) typically allow the keeper good traction, without getting stuck while extending to make a save.