Why do sports people wear black paint under their eye's?

Answer 1

• The black marks are called eye black (a greasy black substance, not sure of its composition) and eye black strips (simple strips of black adhesive that doesn't smear or stain clothes).
• The black stops some light from reflecting in to the players eyes. This helps them handle the glare from lights and sunshine. Some players also wear a lot to try and intimidate the opposition
• Eye black is a grease applied under the eyes to reduce glare. It is often used by Baseball and American football players, where sunlight or stadium lights can impair vision of an airborne ball. Eye black has been used for centuries to help reduce the glare of the sun.

Traditional grease consists of beeswax, paraffin, and carbon. Anti-glare face stripes that emulate the grease are also commonly used. One of the earliest known instances of a player wearing eye black is baseball legend Babe Ruth, who, in or around the 1930s, used the grease in an attempt to reduce sun glare. According to Paul Lukas of ESPN.com, eye black caught on with football player Andy Farkas. He also states that the original eye black was made from burned cork ashes.

A 2003 study by Brian DeBroff and Patricia Pahk tested whether black eye grease actually had anti-glare properties. The subjects of the study were divided into three groups: wearers of eye black, wearers of anti-glare stickers, and wearers of petroleum jelly. The subjects' vision was tested using an eye chart while being exposed to natural sunlight. The study concluded that eye black reduced glare of the sun and improved contrast sensitivity, whereas commercial anti-glare stickers and petroleum jelly (the control substance) were found to be ineffective. A further study which set to improve DeBroff's methodology also found eye black to reduce glare from the sun, but less so in blue-eyed individuals and males.

Some athletes, particularly at the college level, began a practice of placing short messages or Bible verse references on their eye black. On April 14, 2010, the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel (PROP) approved a proposal effecting "that players are not allowed to have any symbols or messages on their eye black starting in the 2010 season.

Most modern NFL & NCAA players just use it as war-paint.

Answer 2

It prevents distracting glare from sweaty cheeks. You might think it odd that football players do this, while many other athletes do not. This has to do with the fact that the head is inside a helmet, and the eyes become accustomed to the relative darkness, so sudden flashes of light reflecting off of the cheeks can be disproportionately distracting. You may have also noticed baseball players doing the same thing for similar reasons; though the eye altering darkness comes from the baseball cap instead of a football helmet.

Answer 3

What football players put under their eyes that is black is simply called "eye black." It is used to reduce glare from the sun, and it can consist of beeswax, paraffin, and carbon.

Answer 4

To absorb light (it is supposed to cut down on the glare).

Answer 5

It helps to reduce the glare from the sun/lights

Answer 6

One under each eye. Anything else is a personal choice with personal meaning to the player.

Answer 7

So the light dosen't reflect in their eyes

Answer 8

Iit makes them look harder then they are