Every winter, the same question comes up in club WhatsApp groups: can the kids wear snoods on match day? The short answer is no. They're still one of the most useful bits of cold-weather kit a club can buy, though, as long as you know where they're allowed. This guide covers the rules, the options and how to kit a squad out without wasting money.
Quick answer: You can't wear a snood in a football match. IFAB banned them under Law 4 (Players' Equipment) in 2011, because a snood can be grabbed round a player's neck. Snoods are fine for training, warm-ups, substitutes, coaches and spectators. For a club, a branded fleece snood or neck warmer is a cheap, practical winter item. Just issue it as training and touchline kit, not playing kit.
Why were snoods banned in football?
Snoods became fashionable in the Premier League around 2010, with several high-profile players wearing them in winter fixtures. In 2011 the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which writes the Laws of the Game, ruled that snoods were not permitted under Law 4, and the ban took effect from the 2011/12 season.
The reasoning was safety. A snood is a closed loop around the neck. If an opponent grabs it, deliberately or by accident in a challenge, it can pull tight round the throat in a way a shirt collar can't. There was also a general principle: Law 4 says players mustn't wear equipment that's dangerous to themselves or anyone else.
Does the ban apply to grassroots and youth football?
Yes. The Laws of the Game apply at every level of affiliated football, including grassroots and youth leagues. Referees at Sunday league and junior fixtures will ask players to take snoods off before kick-off. Some leagues also have their own rules on cold-weather kit, such as base layers matching shirt colours, so check your league handbook as well.
What can players wear in matches instead?
Law 4 allows undershirts and tights, with colour rules attached. Many leagues and referees also allow plain gloves in cold weather. A matching thermal base layer is usually the best way to keep players warm on match day. Check your competition's rules for the details.
Where snoods are still allowed
The ban covers players on the pitch during a match. Snoods are fine:
- In training. This is where most snoods get worn, especially at evening sessions under floodlights from October to March.
- During warm-ups and on the bench. Substitutes can keep them on until they're called on.
- For coaches, managers and volunteers. The people standing still on the touchline for 90 minutes need them most.
- For parents and supporters. A club-branded snood also works well as supporter merchandise.
Some clubs remind players with a simple rule: "snoods off at the whistle".
Snood, neck warmer or scarf: which is best?
This comes up in the "people also ask" results for a reason. Here's how the three compare for sport.
Snoods
A snood is a thin, stretchy tube that can be pulled up over the chin, ears or face. It's lightweight, packs into a pocket, and is good for training because it doesn't overheat once players get moving. Performance fabrics like Dri-FIT wick sweat.
Fleece neck warmers
A neck warmer is a thicker fleece tube, sometimes with a drawcord. It's much warmer than a thin snood, which makes it ideal for coaches, subs and spectators who aren't moving much. Fleece also takes an embroidered logo well.
Scarves
Scarves are warm and traditional, and still the supporter's classic. For anyone actually playing or coaching, though, loose ends are a nuisance and a snagging risk. Most clubs keep scarves for supporters and snoods or neck warmers for the squad.
Verdict: for players in training, a thin snood. For coaches and the touchline, a fleece neck warmer. For supporters, either. Few clubs need all three.
How to choose snoods for your club
1. Decide who they're for
Buying for the whole junior section as part of a kit bundle is a different order from buying twenty for the coaching team. Junior bundles favour a low-cost, washable snood. Coaches and staff get more use out of a warmer fleece neck warmer.
2. Match the brand of your training kit
If your training kit is Nike, a Nike Fleece Neckwarmer or the reversible club fleece version keeps everything looking like one kit. If price matters most, a plain snood carrying your crest does the same job for much less.
3. Keep the branding simple
A neck warmer has a small, curved, stretchy area to decorate. A club crest or initials works. A crest with the full club name in tiny text around the edge does not. Embroidery is usually the most durable choice on fleece. Thin performance fabrics may suit a heat-applied transfer better. Our embroidery service page explains how we prepare logos for small items.
4. Order before the cold arrives
Demand for winter kit rises from October, and clubs tend to realise they need snoods after the first cold training night. Allow for a quote (within one working day), a proof, and typical dispatch 7–14 working days after you approve it. That means ordering in September or early October if you want them for the first frosty session.
5. Plan for reorders
New players join mid-season and snoods get lost. Choose a supplier that keeps your logo on file and has no minimum order, so topping up two or three later doesn't cost a fortune.
What else goes in a winter club bundle?
If you're ordering snoods, it's worth adding the rest of the cold-weather kit to the same order and proof:
- Personalised beanies for training and the touchline
- Branded gilets for coaches and volunteers
- Training tops and base layers from your football team kit supplier
For a wider view of dressing people for UK winters, from groundstaff to outdoor event teams, see our guide to kitting out a team for the cold months.
FAQs
Can you wear a snood while playing football?
Not in a match. Snoods have been banned under Law 4 of the Laws of the Game since 2011. You can wear one in training, during warm-ups and on the bench.
Can goalkeepers wear snoods?
No. The ban applies to all players, goalkeepers included.
Are snoods better than scarves for kids?
For active children, usually yes. A snood has no loose ends to catch on equipment or get pulled in the playground, and it stays in place when they run.
Can we get snoods with our club badge on?
Yes. CentralCustom brands snoods and neck warmers with your club crest, with no minimum order and a free digital proof. See custom snoods and neck warmers, or request a quote.
