Now for all those 'tape falling off' problems that EVERYONE has - not just Scoey.
The tape most people are familiar with (the brown, sometimes white 38mm non-stretchy strapping tape) is called rigid tape. Its designed to restrict or guide movement, therefore supporting ligaments that may have been damaged. It isn't designed to replace ligaments, which is why, if you pay attention to strapping on players on tv, the tape is continuing to extend further on either side of the joint - knee strapping often starts mid calf and ends where lineout tape does, and shoulder strapping wraps around the body, extends down to the middle of the back, and reaches almost the elbow - and this is for two reasons.
- More skin for the tape to stick to; and more importantly
- Lever lengths - force applied further away from the fulcrum and all that. The tape is designed to apply as much force as practical to stop a movement ONLY at the extreme of the motion. All other movements should be possible. Asking someone to strap your knee so it doesn't move is SO 80s
But I digress. For adhesion purposes, rigid tape by itself on shoulders, knees and elbows falls off everyone, regardless of how 'good' the strapper is, because the adhesive isn't strong enough to withstand a 20min+ warm-up (+ sweat), and a 70-80min game (+ sweat) and constant stretching and pulling. You need preparation and layers.
Layer 1: spray adhesive on SHAVED skin. You can get tape adhesives. Elastoplast has one, but I quite like Tuff Skin, but if you're wanting a cheap one, Ball Grip (one that smells like metho) will get you through. All adhesives dry out that little layer of oil that sits on your skin which stops tape from sticking, but they make the skin sticky when they dry too.
For the big boys (Premier grade and the reserve grade players who will be backing up) we use the Ball Grip spray, wait for it to dry, then use the Tuff Skin, wait for it to dry, then start strapping. Some players need the 2 layers even for ankles so the tape doesn't slide on their ankles.
And yes, shave. Not because it'll make tape removal less painful (I really don't care how much that hurts because it isn't hurting me) but tape should stick to skin, not hair, and if it sticks to hair it'll move more on the skin and the taping job will be less effective. And that does affect me because if you complain about that, people will think it's my fault
Layer 2: Rigid tape thoughtfully applied. I say thoughtfully because if someone comes up and asks for their shoulder to be strapped, it can be because of a subluxation/dislocation (which direction), they could be a lineout jumper (which affects how far down across the front of the shoulder I bring the tape - lower = more stable, but more stable = can't lift your arms above your head), they could have something else going on too, or they could want me to strap their shoulder so it doesn't hurt to tackle (
stiff shit - tackling hurts, sticky tape won't help)
The point being that even though there are generic ways of strapping joints, unless they are suitable for the injury you have/ don't want to have they won't work.
Layer 3: Stretchy tape over the top - called 'overwrap'. It compresses the joint which provides additional proprioception, keeps the rigid on, supports the joint even when the tape tears (and tape on knee strapping ALWAYS tears) and generally is the only thing that makes tape last the whole game. On knees and shoulders in particular, it's essential, and even with all the preparation in the world, is still the only way players can leave the field with any strapping tape intact at the end of one game (players backing up for another game can require re-strapping or reinforcement).
Yes it's costly, but it means that you don't need to run over midway through the game and get re-strapped on sweaty skin (doesn't stick so I don't even bother - sorry) and waste half-to-a-full roll of tape every week.
