Equipment

If your kid is new to soccer, you may be asking what equipment will you need for the upcoming season. We talked earlier this week about game uniforms, but there is some other gear you'll need.

First and foremost: shin guards. Shin guards are an absolute necessity. Kids will not be able to play in games without them, and coaches are discouraged from even letting kids practice without them. You can get shin guards at just about any sporting goods store. Make sure you put them on underneath your child's socks. As a coach, I try and always have an extra pair of emergency shin guards in my bag, so for you coaches it's something you may want to consider.

Second: cleats. Cleats are less a necessity as players are allowed to play in sneakers, but they're certainly recommended. Make sure when you get cleats you get soccer cleats, and not football cleats or baseball cleats (or golf spikes) as all of those are different. Soccer cleats can't had a "toe cleat", and can't be metal tipped. Considering this is rec soccer, and how fast kids change shoe sizes, I wouldn't break the bank on this purchase. 

Third: a ball. The ball you get is dependent on your child's age. U7/8s use a size 3 soccer ball, U9/10s and U11/12s use a size 4 soccer ball, and then U13s and up use a size 5 (or full size) soccer ball. Ideally every player will have their own ball as this maximizes their opportunities to get touches at practice. I highly recommend putting your child's name on their ball as a lot of balls look the same, and they have a tendency to wander off. 

Finally: a water bottle. As we get into May/June, we'll have some pretty warm practice/game days, so make sure your child is able to stay hydrated with plenty of water. Like soccer balls, I highly recommend putting your child's name on your water bottle.