Summary: Soccer goalkeepers wear a different uniform from the rest of the team. The difference is because the team needs to easily identify their own goalkeeper, his own safety, and to distract offensive players with a brighter target.
Different rules govern what goalkeepers can wear in the various soccer leagues in each and around the world. Often, when you watch a soccer game, you will notice that the goalkeeper stands out, either because of a brighter uniform or some other difference. However, it is more than just about how the uniform looks. Here are a few other reasons why a soccer goalkeeper wears a different uniform:
Safety
Even if the visual appearance of the goalkeeper’s uniform was the same as the rest of the team, there are still a lot of other differences. Most of the difference are around safety with additional padding and different cuts for mobility and flexibility.
Contrast
The most obvious reason is a contrast from the rest of the team. Even for the team, when there is an offensive from the opposition, its useful to be able to tell your goalkeeper from another team member so you can help or get out of the way when he comes to collect the ball.
Target
Some goalkeepers and teams believe that human nature makes the offensive player target the brightest and most visible object in the direction he will shoot. It could explain why a lot of goalkeepers elect to wear very bright and fluorescent colors.
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