Gear of the Game: Kicks

As I'm obsessed with dodgeball, I think about it a lot. Not just making big plays, but the tiny little things that make differences in your style and comfort with the game. Obviously, there's a lot to be said for skills, tactics, and strategies, but what you wear during a game can make a huge difference.

But when you get down to it, the most important piece of equipment you can wear are your kicks, your wheels, your shoes.

Some of my teammates on the Evil Empire, specifically Hot Sauce and My Pet Monster, like to play in their bare feet to get a better feel for the floor. Or because they forget their running shoes at home. It's all very Tarzan.

Most players wear your standard-issue running shoes. Jellybean is a fan of her Adidas, and Jimmers recently went through a pair of red Nikes. One of the problems with regular running shoes is that the soles are separate pieces from the rest of the shoe that are glued on. The explosive lateral movements of dodgeball tend to rip and tear the soles of your shoes off.

That's why my weapon of choice are basketball shoes, particularly AND1s. First of all, being associated with the likes of this...



...gives me unbelievable street cred in the world of semi-pro dodgeball.

More importantly, basketball shoes are perfectly designed for the kind of movements necessary for dodgeball. They're very durable and have a great grip on the floor, which, after all, is usually a basketball court. Also, as Jimmers has often pointed out, because they've got high-tops, they offer superior ankle support.

For me, the Rolls Royce of dodgeball shoes would have to be the T-Mac 4s that came out from Adidas about three years ago. They used the HUG system, which was a laceless shoe-fitting system that had a lever and screw system on the back to adjust the tightness of your shoes. Unfortunately, they were an unwieldy $350, before tax. Also, wearing T-Macs would mean never winning a playoff series in the NBA, and that would be terrible.

This is another reason why AND1s are preferable. They're not that expensive, which is good because eventually all dodgeball shoes meet the same fate: Dodgeball burns.

It's an epidemic amongst dodgeball shoes, one that claims many fresh and clean pairs of Nikes, Adidas, Reeboks and even K-Swiss. They effect many shoes, including shoes that may very well be in your own closet. Dodgeball burns occur from dragging your plant foot during the follow-through of a throw. The top of your toes and sometimes even your ankle rub across the floor and burn off the shoe's material. Doing this week after week creates holes on the top of your shoes and end up destroying them since, after all, shoes aren't built for this kind of punishment.

Trust me when I say this: your shoes can make your game. Go out and invest some time in a good pair, but not too much money since they will, inevitably, be destroyed by the end of a season.