Glove Care
GOALKEEPER GLOVE CARE
Look after your goalkeeper gloves and they’ll look after you.
Your SCK goalkeeper gloves are built to give you the grip, control and confidence you need on the pitch. To get the best performance and longest possible life from your gloves, proper care starts from the moment they arrive.
Latex is a high-performance material and naturally requires care. Follow the guide below from purchase to pitch and back again.
1. WHEN YOUR GLOVES ARRIVE
Your new SCK goalkeeper gloves may have a protective plastic film covering the latex palms. This film protects the latex during manufacturing, packaging and delivery.
Do not rush to remove it as soon as your gloves arrive.
We recommend keeping the protective film in place until you are ready to prepare your gloves for use and you are 100% happy. We cannot accept a return if the protective plastic on the latex palm is removed.
2. PRE-WASH BEFORE YOUR FIRST USE
Your first wash is important.
Before wearing your new gloves for training or a match, pre-wash them first.
The manufacturing process can leave small amounts of preservatives or residue on the latex. Washing the gloves helps remove this and allows the latex to become activated, helping you get the best possible grip from the first use.
Use warm water, no hotter than 30°C, and gently wash the palms.
Once washed, allow the gloves to dry naturally.
If you want to make absolutely sure your gloves are ready for action, a second pre-wash is perfectly fine.
3. REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE FILM
Once you have completed your pre-wash, and the latex has softened, it is time to remove the protective film.
Gently peel the film away from the latex palm.
We recommend removing the film after the pre-wash rather than before. The latex will be softer and more flexible, making the film easier to remove.
Take your time and avoid aggressively picking or pulling at the latex.
Once the film is removed, your gloves are ready to be prepared for your hands.
4. GETTING YOUR PERFECT FIT
SCK slip-on goalkeeper gloves can feel tight when brand new. This is intentional and helps provide a secure, close-fitting feel once the glove has moulded to your hand.
After your pre-wash, put the gloves on and gently work the material by flexing your hands and fingers.
Allow the glove to naturally stretch and mould around your hand.
Never force your hand into the glove or aggressively pull on the fingers or latex.
With use, the material will become more comfortable and adapt to the shape of your hand.
5. BEFORE YOU STEP ON THE PITCH
Your gloves are now prepared and ready for training or match day.
Before playing, lightly dampen the latex palms with water.
Latex performs best when it is slightly damp. Keeping the palm hydrated helps maximise grip and can also help prevent the latex from becoming excessively dry during use.
6. DURING PLAY
Keep your palms damp.
During training or a match, occasionally add a small amount of water to the palms when needed.
You will often see professional goalkeepers adding water to their gloves during games for exactly this reason.
Latex is not designed to perform at its best when completely dry.
Keep the palms slightly damp, but avoid completely soaking the gloves.
Look after your latex.
Try to avoid unnecessary contact between the latex palms and abrasive surfaces.
Dragging your palms across the ground, repeatedly pushing yourself up using the gloves or unnecessary contact with hard surfaces can dramatically increase wear.
7. AFTER TRAINING OR A MATCH
Wash your gloves as soon as possible.
Once you've finished playing, don't throw your gloves into your kit bag and leave them until your next session.
Wash them as soon as possible after use.
Sweat, dirt, mud and bacteria can build up on the latex and affect both grip and durability if left sitting on the gloves.
8. CLEANING YOUR GLOVES
Rinse away the dirt
Start by rinsing the gloves under warm water, maximum 30°C.
Gently rub the latex with your fingers to remove loose dirt and debris.
Avoid aggressive scrubbing.
Soak the gloves
Fill a sink or basin with warm water and submerge the gloves.
Gently squeeze the gloves while they are underwater to help loosen dirt from the latex.
Use glove wash if available
For the best results, we recommend using a specialist goalkeeper glove cleaner.
Apply the cleaner to the latex and gently massage it into the palm using your thumbs and fingers.
Continue to rinse and gently massage the latex until the dirt has been removed.
Don't have specialist glove wash? Don't worry. Clean warm water is still better than leaving dirt and sweat on your gloves.
9. SQUEEZE — DON'T TWIST
Once your gloves are clean, remove them from the water and gently squeeze out the excess water.
Do not twist, wring or aggressively squeeze your gloves.
This can put unnecessary stress on the latex, stitching and glove construction.
Make sure you gently remove excess water from the fingertips as well.
10. DRY YOUR GLOVES NATURALLY
This is one of the most important parts of glove care.
Leave your gloves to dry naturally in a well-ventilated area.
Keep them away from:
Radiators
Heaters
Hairdryers
Direct sunlight
Other direct heat sources
Never use artificial heat to speed up the drying process.
Excessive heat and UV exposure can dry out the latex, causing it to become brittle, crack and lose grip.
11. AFTER YOUR GLOVES ARE DRY
Once your gloves are completely dry, you can apply a very small amount of Vaseline to the latex palm.
Gently spread a thin layer across the latex to help prevent it from becoming excessively dry and cracking.
Less is more. Do not apply large amounts, as excessive Vaseline can affect the feel and performance of the latex.
Store your gloves somewhere cool, dry and away from direct sunlight until your next session.
12. 3G & SOLID GROUND — TAKE EXTRA CARE
3G pitches and solid ground can be extremely harsh on goalkeeper glove latex.
Latex is designed for grip and performance, but it is also a material that naturally wears with use. Abrasive surfaces can dramatically accelerate this process.
Avoid unnecessary contact between your palms and the ground wherever possible.
Dragging your hands across the surface, crawling on your palms or repeatedly pushing yourself up from the ground can cause significant latex wear.
3G and solid ground can kill latex.
If you regularly play on 3G, artificial or particularly hard surfaces, expect your gloves to experience more wear than they would on a good-quality natural grass pitch.
13. REPEAT THE PROCESS
Every time you train or play:
PLAY → WASH → DRY → PROTECT → STORE → REPEAT
The better you look after your gloves, the longer they will maintain their grip, comfort and performance.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Goalkeeper gloves are performance equipment and latex will naturally wear with use.
The lifespan of your gloves depends on many factors, including playing surface, frequency of use, playing style and how well they are cared for.
South Coast Kits cannot be held responsible for premature latex wear or damage caused by incorrect care, misuse, excessive abrasion or playing on unsuitable surfaces.
In particular, 3G, artificial and solid surfaces can significantly reduce the lifespan of latex.
However, with the right care and attention, your SCK goalkeeper gloves can give you excellent grip and performance for a long time.
LOOK AFTER YOUR GLOVES. TRUST YOUR GRIP.
From the moment they arrive to the final whistle, take care of your SCK gloves.
Pre-wash them.
Remove the film.
Get the perfect fit.
Keep the latex damp.
Wash them after every session.
Dry them naturally.
Protect the latex.
And avoid unnecessary contact with abrasive surfaces.
Your gloves are built to perform. Give them the care they deserve.