Soccer is an easy sport to pick up and start playing, partially because it doesn’t require very much equipment. At its core, all you need is ball and you play a pickup game. Once you start playing a little more, though, you’ll find that there is a collection of essential soccer gear that you’ll want to have.
Cleats
A good pair of soccer cleats is by far the most essential piece of equipment for playing this wonderful game. One of the beauties about soccer is that it doesn’t take a whole lot of gear to play, but cleats are the exception – we would consider them a must have.
Cleats allow you to plant, cut, and accelerate on the field. They are designed to form fit your foot, resulting in better touch on the ball. Without cleats, you’ll be slipping all over the field, and your traps, passes, and kicks will be off.
Every foot is different, and so you’ll want to spend some time making sure you grab the right pair. For example, there are specialized cleats for wide feet and for flat feet. Depending on your specific foot, these specialized cleats can be a lot more comfortable, while also giving you better accuracy at the same time.
In addition, there are specialized cleats for the specific position you play. This might not be very important if you’re buying a pair of cleats for your kids, but as you get into the high school and club spots, you might want to consider it. You can pick up a pair of cleats designed for forwards and strikers, for midfielders and wingers, or for defenders and fullbacks.
Shin Guards
Shin guards might seem a little funny until you’ve played a game of soccer, and then you realize how essential they are. A fast paced game of soccer typically comes with its fair share of ankle hacks and shin kicks. Without guards, you can do serious damage to your shins.
Shin guards as a concept have actually been around since the ancient Greeks used them in battle. In soccer, they were first introduced in 1874 by Sam Weller Widdowson. Their popularity and has waxed and waned over the years, but they have always been a consistent in the sport.
It wasn’t until FIFA required shin guards in the 1990’s that a lot of effort was put into their form and fit. Nowadays, you can find shin guards in all shapes and sizes, depending on your preferences.
The two most common types of guards are sleeve shin guards and slip-in shin guards. Sleeve guards are worn, almost like an additional sock. Slip-in guards are just as they sound – they “slip-in” underneath your socks. A modified version of the sleeve version comes with an ankle support brace as well, which is particularly great for defenders.
Socks
With shin guards a requirement in the game, soccer socks have a new level of importance as an essential piece of equipement. The rules state that your shin guards must be fully covered by your socks. In other words, you’ll need a good pair of socks specifically designed for soccer.
Soccer socks should fit tight and come all the way up to the knee. As a matter of fact, they will typically go above the knee, and the style is to fold them down and back over your guards, in essence doubling up on the sock over this area.
Goalkeeper Gloves
Obviously, if you aren’t planning on playing goalie, then you can skip over this section – you don’t need gloves unless you’ll be playing in goal. However, for a goalie, gloves are perhaps the most important piece of equipment they can own.
For starters, the nicer the glove, the more padding they will have throughout the glove. Padding helps protect your hands from hard shots. Nicer gloves will also have better grip throughout the glove, which is essential for trying to catch a rapidly moving ball.
Higher-end gloves also have finger and wrist protection incorporated into the design. Hard shots can do a number on your fingers, bending them back to the point where they dislocate. The best goalie gloves have finger guards and wrist protection to keep you safe.
With all of the diving and sliding that you do in goal, affordable gloves wear out quickly. Definitely spend a little time reading up and buying a pair that will last you for several seasons.
Gear Bag
There are a lot of little items you’ll want to have with you while you play soccer. Typically, these range from a water bottle to tape to a pump for your ball, along with any personal items like deodorant and maybe a snack.
While none of these are requirements, you’ll end up wanting at least a few of these, and you’ll need a bag to carry it in.
