How to Tape an Ankle Over Cleats

According to research from sports doctors nationwide, more than 2 million ankle injuries occur to professional and amateur athletes alike each year. One of the most practical ways to prevent these injuries is to tape the ankle with sports tape. The tape distributes the pressure the athlete puts on the ankle over a larger area, decreasing stress on the joint and reducing the chance of injury or of a recurrence of an old injury. This technique is also used to get recovering athletes back on the field. Taping can be done after the athlete puts on his cleat if necessary.

Things You'll Need

  • Athletic tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie the laces of the cleat tightly and thoroughly to ensure that they will not slip. After you apply the tape, you will not be able to reach the laces, so tighten them now.

    • 2

      Hold the foot at a 90-degree angle with the toes pointed straight up. Supporting the ankle in this position is the best way to evenly distribute the weight.

    • 3

      Attach the leading edge of the tape to the outside edge of one of your cleats, where the arch of your foot sits inside the shoe. You will see an area on the bottom of your shoe that features no cleats; that's what you're aiming for. Wrap the tape under and around the bottom of your cleat so that it comes up the other side.

    • 4

      Wrap the tape around the top of the foot in small circles, overlapping each pass by one-third to one-half the width of the piece of tape. Keep wrapping in a circular motion around the top of the shoe and up toward the ankle.

    • 5

      Wrap the first one or two pieces of tape around the ankle and then stop. Carefully flex your toes to point down and then gently roll the ankle to ensure that you get some movement without pain or cutting off the circulation. As long as you can move freely, continue wrapping the tape as before.

    • 6

      Cover the ankle up to about 1 to 2 inches above the joint; the tape will probably extend a little bit up over your shin. When the wrapping is complete, cut or tear the tape and firmly press the end down against your skin.

    • 7

      Cut a small piece of tape and apply it over the end on your shin to hold the end down, so it will not peel back. Make two to three passes with the tape starting at the edge of the bottom of your cleat where you started and wrapping under and around as before, to hold that end in place as well.