Having your little ones starting soccer can be an exciting time, but also a confusing one for those with limited experience with soccer. Making sure you have the right gear is important when it comes to soccer. Wearing the wrong gear could result in avoidable pain or injury, so wearing the right gear is important to the safety of your superstar.
Cleats
Soccer Cleats are one of the most important pieces of equipment when it comes to starting soccer. Cleats offer superior traction when playing on grass and turf surfaces, as opposed to regular tennis shoes. Kids soccer cleats can range anywhere from $30 to upwards of $130. Finding the right cleats can become difficult because there is no standard across the industry, different companies may size their cleats different from others. Generally speaking, the cleats should fit the same as regular tennis shoes, but that is not a guarantee. I would recommend trying on different types of cleats from different brands to see which fits best. It’s also not a bad idea to size up slightly to give room to grow into. If the cleats are a tad on the larger side, wearing thicker socks can help take up more room to give the cleats a more snug fit, in turn reducing the risk of injury and discomfort.
Soccer cleats and shoes are divided up by the intended playing surface. Cleats that say FG are meant to be played with on firm ground surfaces, so grass and even some turf surfaces, although playing on turf may cause the cleats to wear faster. I use firm ground cleats on turf and have never had a problem, but if you don’t want to risk it then shoes with TF soccer shoes are used for turf surfaces.
Shoes with IN are meant to be used on indoor surfaces like a court or concrete. Chances are that your child will be playing on firm ground surfaces if they are starting out, so FG cleats are your go to.
Soccer Balls
It would be pretty hard to play soccer without a ball. Finding the right ball is actually much easier than some may think, especially at a young age. Soccer balls are broken into sizes 3, 4, and 5. From ages 5-8 kids will be using a size 3, so the smallest of the three. From 8-11 a size 4, and then from ages 12 and up a size 5 ball is used. Using the right ball is important to the development of a young player, so be sure to choose the right one for their age group.
Shin Guards
Keeping your star safe and protected is important, and finding a shin guard that does both of those things can be difficult. Shin guards are loosely categorized into two different types. One type has an ankle protector that also wraps around the foot to keep it secured. The other kind just slips into the sock and is secured by a tight sock like sleeve to keep it in place. What you choose to wear ultimately comes down to personal choice. Whatever feels comfortable for your player is what you should choose. If you want to have the extra protection then I would recommend using the shin guards with the ankle protection. Most shin guard sizes are determined by the height of the player, and most brands will have a sizing chart that tells you what size corresponds to what height.
Apparel
Wearing the right apparel is important when it comes to soccer. Wearing the wrong types of clothes or the wrong materials can make a difference. If you are new to soccer, jerseys are made from sweat wicking materials that are more comfortable a lightweight as opposed to a shirt made from cotton. The same thing goes for shorts. Most soccer shorts are made from polyester and are pocketless, so a player can remain comfortable. Soccer socks vary slightly from brand to brand with some being thicker or thinner than others. Sock sizing corresponds with shoe sizes, and varies from brand to brand, so it’s important to pay attention so you can get the right fit. Generally, socks come up to the knee, but more and more players are wearing them above the knee as well as much shorter, around the mid-calf area. It comes down to personal preference really, some players like it high, others low. Whatever is the most comfortable is what you go for.
Everything Else
There are some items that may be deemed less important than the ones already mentioned, but that is not to say that they aren’t important. A soccer bag can make transporting all of the equipment to and from games or practices much easier. There is not much difference when it comes to bags, whichever one fits all the gear works just fine. In the bag you could put anything you think might be of use. This could be any form of first aid, spare clothes, slides, or anything that may come in handy.
No Comments