Soccer "Kits" question.

[charger77]

Hockey jerseys are sometimes refered to as sweaters, because they uesd to be... sweaters.

Here is my question:

Why are soccer jerseys called kits?

Thanks,

-Dan

[gordie_delini]

soccer jerseys are called jerseys. shirt, short, socks make a kit. jerseys are referred to as kits in shorthand because that's the part of the kit that people buy in a replica.

[Discrim]

soccer jerseys are called shirts the kit, technically speaking, is everything a soccer player wears, but generally refers to the shirt, shorts and socks. I'm not sure myself how that term came about, though...aaaaand gordie beat me to it

[heernumurr]

To agree with the other posts and give a translation:

Shirt = Jersey

Strip = Uniform

Kit = Uniform + boots, shinpads, goalie gloves etc

'Strip' and 'kit' could both be used to describe the shirts, shorts and socks; but only 'kit' would be used to describe everything a player wears on the pitch.

ps. Pitch = Field, since I realise that's not a term used much across the pond. Perhaps I should attempt a full dictionary...

[UCLAcrew]

i've been lead to believe by the interwebs that there was once a golden age when entire uniforms were packaged as a single unit for purchase.

not sure if this was a "kids only" thing like those wilson replica (american/gridiron) football uniform sets we had here in the states.

[heernumurr]

i've been lead to believe by the interwebs that there was once a golden age when entire uniforms were packaged as a single unit for purchase.

Yeah, I was bought this for my birthday when I was a kid. It came with the shorts and socks in a lovely box, similar to the one you showed only it opened like a shoebox.

You'll notice there's no crest on the shirt. It came with both the Scudetto and Champions League trophy badges (you can see them in the bag attached to the collar), which could be sewn onto the shirt. I went with the scudetto.

[Bouj]

i've been lead to believe by the interwebs that there was once a golden age when entire uniforms were packaged as a single unit for purchase.

Yeah, I was bought this for my birthday when I was a kid. It came with the shorts and socks in a lovely box, similar to the one you showed only it opened like a shoebox.

You'll notice there's no crest on the shirt. It came with both the Scudetto and Champions League trophy badges (you can see them in the bag attached to the collar), which could be sewn onto the shirt. I went with the scudetto.

I had the same shirt in short sleeve! I went scudetto too. Back in the early 90's, Lotto included both with the Milan shirt every year they won Serie A. The first year adidas picked them up, they didn't include the scudetto, and they didn't match what they were actually wearing on the field because the team was wearing the scudetto and all the replica shirts had the team badge.

[TFoA]

i've been lead to believe by the interwebs that there was once a golden age when entire uniforms were packaged as a single unit for purchase.

Yeah, I was bought this for my birthday when I was a kid. It came with the shorts and socks in a lovely box, similar to the one you showed only it opened like a shoebox.

You'll notice there's no crest on the shirt. It came with both the Scudetto and Champions League trophy badges (you can see them in the bag attached to the collar), which could be sewn onto the shirt. I went with the scudetto.

Well, according to what I've seen, AC Milan were extremely late when it came to the "Put your crest on your shirt" trend. I think that they just started doing that in 1995. Compared to England where every team had been doing it since the 70s. I wonder why Milan were late with that?

But yeah, that Top Team football kit is pretty awesome-looking.