Square toed kicking shoe?

[HLin NC]

Back in the mid-80's, when I worked in the sporting goods trade, there was an outfit in Chattanooga that sold a "kicking strap". It was made of nylon webbing and had Velcro. In the middle of it was a metal grommet and hole that hooked over the toe cleat. You secured the strap around the ankle and pulled the toe of your cleat back. I had a classmate who actually used it. We were in a rural, mountain community and soccer had yet to arrive to our area.

[stevestod]

I kicked with a square toed shoe in high school; 1966-1970. George Blanda was the man then.

[parepat]

A buddy of mine held the record in Ohio for many years for the longest field goal. 54 yards using the Spot Bilt kicking shoe.

[Tom.OH]

We worked a scrimmage game last year and one team , Trotwood Madison (end of the season division 2 state champs) had a straight on kicker. I had not seen one in years.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by HLin NC

Back in the mid-80's, when I worked in the sporting goods trade, there was an outfit in Chattanooga that sold a "kicking strap". It was made of nylon webbing and had Velcro. In the middle of it was a metal grommet and hole that hooked over the toe cleat. You secured the strap around the ankle and pulled the toe of your cleat back. I had a classmate who actually used it. We were in a rural, mountain community and soccer had yet to arrive to our area.

They stole my invention. I would take a shoestring, and tie a little loop in it. Then I hooked the loop of the shoestring on a front cleat. Next I tied the shoestring around my ankle. Voilà! Instant kicking shoe.

I could never wear the cleats with the heavy sole. I was glad when they introduced the new sole made of a hard plastic. Much more lightweight.

BTW-I bet it was Riddell that made the square toed kicking shoe.

[SWFLguy]

I have seen the square toe shoe years ago and also kickers tying up their shoe to keep their toe bent. My old high school had an Italian soccer player kick footballs soccer style before I saw Pete Gogolak. You want another old school? My college team, University of Maine, had a guy who did drop kicks for PATs and FGs. I never saw one in 32 years of high school officiating.