Comfort, Comfort and Comfort for the Young Player
May 07 '00
These are the top 3 criteria for buying any cleat for an aspiring soccer player. Having played the game for 35 years, and been a coach and referee (boo!) for over fifteen years I’ve seen it all. So here are some of my recommendations for the young player. These are in the category of little 5-yr-old Susie playing intramural to 8-10 year-old Susie making her first travel team.
At this point in your childs life, everything is growing, and although the growth of bones in the foot typically happens in spurts, if you get more than a season (i.e. Sept-Nov) out of a pair of cleats you’re lucky. I can guarantee you will get caught in the middle of the looks vs. cost vs. comfort love triangle. Your child will not care about the cost, and as long as the cleat actually will fit onto their foot, won’t care too much about comfort either. What they will care about is color, and maybe manufacturer. The first practice for any team becomes more like a fashion show. (Note to coaches, especially girls teams – the same way you should notice your wife’s new haircut, you have to notice Susie’s new soccer shoes.)
You can decide about how much you are willing to spend and negotiate about color, so my advice focuses on comfort. Bear in mind this may well be your childs first sustained outdoor activity in all kinds of weather. And don’t be one of those parents who yells at their kid when they say their feet hurt.
1.Size: Obviously have your kids feet measured. Then remember they will be wearing a pair of thick soccer socks too. Its OK to have a little toe-room at the front of the boot, but there should not be any wiggle room at the back. If the heel lifts up that’s a danger sign. Just like regular shoes, some manufacturers run a little smaller or larger than others. There can be a ½ size difference between Nike and Adidas for example.
2.Flexibility: Take the selected boot and hold it between your palms. Press inwards. The boot should flex about 1/3 of the way up from the toe. If it doesn’t, or flexes halfway up, junior will be complaining about the shoes within a week.
3.Coverage: Try to avoid the shoes with the plastic tops around the laces. In wet weather they let way too much moisture through leading to soggy socks. In hot weather, for some reason, they do not let the feet breathe, leading to a build-up of sweat, potential blisters and really smelly laundry.
4.Studs: There should be a little give in the studs. By this I mean they should be slightly rubbery as opposed to hard plastic. The hard plastic round studs will jar small feet on hard ground and potentially lead to sore ankles. At this age there is no need to get the fancy perimeter-based grip-track studs (like the Nike Zoom International or Mia Hamm).
5.The Heels: This is where Susie will be kicked more often than anywhere else. You can buy shinguards that protect the ankles, but the boot has to protect the heel. The heel should not bend or give to any great degree but on the other hand (or foot) should not be like the outer coating of the space shuttle either.
6. The Laces: Nothing really to do with comfort, but don’t get a shoe whose laces are so long they have to be tied twice around the shoe. Its tough enough getting the kids playing, if they have to keep stopping to tie their laces – or have coach/mom tie them – it’s a distraction. Either get some Velcro fasteners over the laces or look for something called “Sweet Spots”, which are elasticized slip-on covers which go around the shoe and keep the laces tied.
Above all, make sure your child is comfortable in the shoes. Soccer is a fun game to learn, and its difficult enough to get the attention of a bunch of 6 year-olds, so the fewer distractions they have, the better. If in doubt, ask for advice or take someone with you, but don’t let a salesperson tell you the shoe fit fine or that they’ll grow into them if you’re not sure. Remember – comfort, comfort and comfort !
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