Shopping for Soccer Season: The Basics Every Player Needs

Article by: Top Soccer Buy

It’s time for the holidays, and that means lots of parents and friends of small kids are hitting the Web in search of discount soccer equipment. The good news is that you can almost always find deals on major brands, like Diadora soccer or adidas, but you should be sure you’re purchasing equipment your players will actually use.

Soccer is a game that requires few piece of equipment to get started, but the right equipment can make a big difference to the players in your life.

Cleats

Is your child playing indoors or outdoors? That makes a difference, as indoor cleats won’t have as much traction on grass. Indoor cleats are designed to look more like a regular shoe you’d wear on the street. Imagine a low profile and gum outsole and you’ve basically got the gist. Outdoor soccer cleats have varying degrees of firmness designed for different field conditions. Even artificial turf has recommended shoes players should don before hitting the pitch. Traction makes a big difference.

Without a doubt, Adidas soccer shoes are one of the most recognizable and high-end brands. Diadora and Nike are two other reputable brands that offer superior quality to all levels of play.

Ball

A quality ball doesn’t necessarily mean an expensive one. The first thing to notice is the size of the ball, as different leagues have varying requirements regarding size. High-quality balls use a polyester thread that is hand stitched, while most manufactured balls use machinery for this process. The panels are turned inside out and stitched together so none of the stitching will show. Check the packaging for what details you can glean.

Padding

Soccer is a physical sport, but not to the same degree as tackle football. The main focus for protection should be the player’s legs. Tackling in soccer puts a player’s legs at risk, so shin guards and knee-high socks are fairly standard purchases for new players. Goalkeepers will also want to grab gloves to help absorb the impact of the ball being kicked at them.

Loose Ends

It’s a good idea to have a bag you can use to carry all of this equipment inside, and teams will feel more cohesive if you have matching kits for the players to wear before they hit the pitch. Be sure you speak with your organization to find out what they are covering. Some teams order the matching kit and take your money, rather than you finding this uniform on your own.
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