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A sizing system for an article of footwear includes an insert attachable to the upper of the article of footwear. The insert is positioned within a pocket formed between the lining of the upper and the exterior shell of the upper. When attached to the upper, the insert forms a part of the exterior s

A sizing system for an article of footwear includes an insert attachable to the upper of the article of footwear. The insert is positioned within a pocket formed between the lining of the upper and the exterior shell of the upper. When attached to the upper, the insert forms a part of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. When the insert is removed, part of the pocket forms a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear or a flap is extended over the pocket to form a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The insert may be secured within the pocket using a mechanical fastener.

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1. A method of changing a size of an article of footwear comprising the steps of: providing an article of footwear having an upper including a liner and an outer shell, with a pocket formed between the liner and the outer shell in a heel region of the upper, the pocket configured to receive an inser

1. A method of changing a size of an article of footwear comprising the steps of: providing an article of footwear having an upper including a liner and an outer shell, with a pocket formed between the liner and the outer shell in a heel region of the upper, the pocket configured to receive an insert, the insert configured to alter an effective length of the article of footwear;wherein the pocket is defined in a heel portion of the article of footwear by a first surface facing a second surface, the first surface extending vertically further than the second surface to an upper edge;providing the insert, wherein the insert is configured to be secured within the pocket;positioning the insert within the pocket so that a portion of the insert forms an exterior surface of the article of footwear substantially covering the portion of the first surface that extends vertically further than the second surface such that the insert extends to the upper edge of the first surface of the pocket; andsecuring the insert within the pocket by engaging a first portion of a mechanical fastener positioned on the insert with a second portion of the mechanical fastener positioned in the pocket;wherein, when the insert is removed from the pocket, the portion of the first surface extending vertically further than the second surface forms the portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear that is formed by the insert when the insert is positioned within the pocket;wherein the heel portion of the article of footwear has a curvature;wherein, the insert is configured to substantially maintain the same shape inside the pocket and outside the pocket such that, when the insert is removed from the pocket, the insert is contoured to match the curvature of the heel portion of the article of footwear;wherein at least a portion of the pocket is positioned at a point furthest from a toe region of the article of footwear;wherein the heel region of the upper has a first rear facing exterior surface; andwherein the insert has a body portion having a first thickness and an upper portion having a second thickness that is thicker than the first thickness of the body portion of the insert, the upper portion of the insert having a second rear facing exterior surface; andpositioning the insert within the pocket so that the effective length of the article of footwear is changed by a distance substantially the same as the first thickness of the body portion of the insert, and the second rear facing exterior surface of the upper portion of the insert is aligned with the first rear facing exterior surface of the heel region of the upper. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: disengaging the first portion of the mechanical fastener from the second portion of the mechanical fastener; andremoving the insert from the pocket. 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of closing the pocket. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mechanical fastener comprises a hook-and-loop fastener. 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the pocket extends to a sole of the article of footwear. 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of closing the pocket includes extending a flap over the pocket. 7. The method of claim 6, wherein closing the pocket further includes securing the flap to the first rear facing exterior surface of the article of footwear with a mechanical fastener. 8. The method of claim 1, further including extending a flap over the pocket. 9. A method of changing a size of an article of footwear comprising the steps of: providing an article of footwear having an upper including a liner and an outer shell, with a pocket formed between the liner and the outer shell in a heel region of the upper, the pocket configured to receive an insert, wherein the heel region of the upper has a first rear facing exterior surface;providing the insert, the insert having a body portion having a first thickness and an upper portion having a second thickness that is thicker than the first thickness of the body portion of the insert, the upper portion of the insert having a second rear facing exterior surface; andpositioning the insert within the pocket so that the effective length of the article of footwear is changed by a distance substantially the same as the first thickness of the body portion of the insert, and the second rear facing exterior surface of the upper portion of the insert is aligned with the first rear facing exterior surface of the heel region of the upper;wherein the heel region of the article of footwear has a curvature; andwherein the insert is configured to substantially maintain the same shape inside the pocket and outside the pocket such that, when the insert is removed from the pocket, the insert is contoured to match the curvature of the heel region of the article of footwear. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the heel region of the upper has an upper-most edge; and wherein positioning the insert within the pocket aligns an upper edge of the insert with the upper-most edge of the heel region of the upper. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the pocket includes a first surface facing a second surface, wherein a portion of the first surface extends vertically further than the second surface. 12. The method of claim 9, further including securing the insert within the pocket by engaging a first portion of a mechanical fastener positioned on the insert with a second portion of the mechanical fastener positioned in the pocket. 13. The method of claim 9, wherein the upper portion of the insert includes an upward-facing surface that is exposed when the insert is inserted in the pocket. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein a transition between the upper portion of the insert and the body portion of the insert forms a lip; and wherein positioning the insert within the pocket rests the lip of the insert on a portion of the pocket. 15. A method of changing a size of an article of footwear comprising the steps of: providing an article of footwear having an upper including a liner and an outer shell, with a pocket formed between the liner and the outer shell in a heel region of the upper;wherein the pocket is defined in a heel portion of the article of footwear by a first surface facing a second surface, the first surface extending vertically further than the second surface to an upper edge; andpositioning an insert within the pocket so that an effective length of the article of footwear is changed and so that a portion of the insert forms an exterior surface of the article of footwear substantially covering the portion of the first surface of the pocket that extends vertically further than the second surface of the pocket, such that the insert extends to the upper edge of the first surface of the pocket;wherein the heel region of the article of footwear has a curvature;wherein the insert is configured to substantially maintain the same shape inside the pocket and outside the pocket such that, when the insert is removed from the pocket, the insert is contoured to match the curvature of the heel region of the article of footwear;wherein at least a portion of the pocket is positioned at a point furthest from a toe region of the article of footwear;wherein the heel region of the upper has a first rear facing exterior surface;wherein the insert has a body portion having a first thickness and an upper portion having a second thickness that is thicker than the first thickness of the body portion of the insert, the upper portion of the insert having a second rear facing exterior surface; andpositioning the insert within the pocket so that the effective length of the article of footwear is changed by a distance substantially the same as the first thickness of the body portion of the insert, and the second rear facing exterior surface of the upper portion of the insert is aligned with the first rear facing exterior surface of the heel region of the upper. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the pocket extends to a sole of the article of footwear. 17. The method of claim 15, further including securing the insert within the pocket by engaging a first portion of a mechanical fastener positioned on the insert with a second portion of the mechanical fastener positioned in the pocket. 18. The method of claim 15, further including securing the insert within the pocket. 19. The method of claim 15, further including removing the insert from the pocket and substantially closing the pocket when the insert is removed from the pocket. 20. The method of claim 15, further including extending a flap over the pocket.