True, a professional may need (and, have) a dozen pairs of soccer shoes (“boots”, cleats, etc.), but what about an 8 year-old? Some of the boots your child asks for may cost over $100 when he/she fits in the $19.95 sale special just fine. What’s a loving parent to do? 

In a Nut Shell

Kids grow out of their boots so quickly that it is doubtful if you should invest in serious footwear until about the age of 9 or 10. Even then, parents have to be aware that the additional “edge” provided by special-purpose boots is seldom realized by developing players. The difference between a $29.95 boot and a $89.95 boot just isn’t that great for a 9-year-old old. Luckily for us all, some of those wallet-busting boots don’t come in youth sizes. Phew!

The best approach is to listen to your child and coach. When your child says her feet hurt or that her toe is sticking out, it’s time for new boots. When your child tells you that he keeps slipping in the mud, it’s probably time for a pair of long-studded, wet-weather boots. If your coach recommends turf shoes because the team is going to be practicing on hard pan all summer, he’s thinking of protecting your child’s body.

If your child practices or plays so much that the boots are always wet when worn, it’s time to get a second pair and to rotate their use.

Style is another issue. If your daughter comes home and tells you that, all of her friends are wearing the latest “Mia Hamm Glow-in-the-Dark Specials with New! Patented Technology Especially Designed for Women,” well, that’s why you are paid the ‘big bucks’ for being a parent.

Colors, Styles, and Technologies

There is no performance improvement to color. At one time, anything except black boots was considered ‘bad luck.’ Soccer boots now come in white, yellow, red, green, blue, and gold. Whatever you want, it can be found. But, it’s purely a style issue.

Boots named after famous players, teams, and world competitions don’t improve much more than the price.

Each year, there’s some “new” advance, technology, or discovery in boots that supposedly will cause you to run faster, shoot harder, or fake out the defenders better than anything in the past. These advances include ribs and fins and rudders and blades, changes in the uppers and changes in the lowers, new tongues, special padding, and stiffer or more flexible this and that. None of these advances probably hurt your child’s game.

Laces, Velcro, Zippers, and Other Fasteners

Laces. Period.  

Care, Feeding, and Repair of Boots

If you pay $200 for kangaroo skin boots, you’ll probably going to spend another $50 for polish, leather conditioner (known as, leather “food”), brushes, and shoe bags. Keep in mind, however, that most children don’t even unlace their boots when they take them off, let alone clean and polish them.

Just make sure the boots are dry when you put them on. If everyone needs to look spiffy for when the team travels to Argentina, the coach will let you know in advance.

Boots: Leathers and Synthetic Uppers

Synthetic uppers are just fine for a long, long time in a child’s learning process.

Boots with real leather (including, cow leather) uppers should be purchased a teeny bit small, because they enlarge with moisture absorbed from sweat and the grass. The books will shrink back when they dry out, and the micro-enlargement will reoccur each time the books absorb moisture. On hot days, you can help the enlargement process by squirting or rubbing water on the uppers.

Studs: Permanent and Removable

“Studs” are boots either which use threaded inserts to achieve the grip/traction needed for specific field conditions or which have permanent studs for a single field condition. Obviously, the advantage of removable inserts is that you can use a single boot for all types of field conditions, as long as you have several sets of studs.

I’ve never seen anyone, youth or professional, sitting on the sidelines changing their mud- and grass-covered inserts. I don’t think that youth players even “have it in them” to change 8-10 studs without losing some of the old studs and leaving most of the new studs too loose. What I have seen as a coach and referee is many boots with missing studs, mismatched studs, worn-out and burred studs, and the wrong kinds of studs.

If you do go for removable studs, there are three tools that you’ll have to bring with you to every game. First, you’ll need to buy at least two stud wrenches: one for your soccer bag, and the other one for when you lose the one in your soccer bag. Keep in mind that there are several types of stud wrenches, and one-size doesn’t fit all. You’ll also need a small metal file. (This is a file for shaving metal, not a file made out of metal.) After walking around on the concrete, studs will begin to burr and “mushroom”, something that referees are constantly on the watch for, since these mushrooms can open up someone’s leg pretty nicely. Finally, since the stud wrench won’t even fit on the stud when the stud is muddy, you’ll need a pair of pliers to torque that stud the “professional” way.

Turf Shoes

Turf shoes are soccer boots with dozens of smaller rubber studs arranged evenly as the wearing surface. These provide great traction on hard grass fields. These are highly recommended if you’re child is practicing or playing where the grass is close to being brown. Additionally, turf shoes may be just "the ticket" if your child is experiencing foot or heal pain. (Read about Sever’s Disease and Plantar Fasciitis.)

Indoor Soccer Boots

If your child plays indoor soccer, the facility will have its own shoe requirements. Tennis shoes are generally all that are required for younger players. Serious players may want to invest in indoor boots, which are essentially, court shoes with a long-wearing upper. It’s important that the sole of boots used for indoor be relatively flat and smooth and that there are no projections that would prevent the foot from turning on artificial turf.

Artificial Turf Soccer Boots

Soccer has become so popular that fields can easily be overused. Fields in many locations never have enough time to "recover." In order to avoid the cost of annual sod replacements, many municipalities are installing all-weather outside soccer fields with artificial turf. As with indoor soccer, boots for use on artificial turf should be chosen with care to prevent ankle and knee injuries that result when a planted foot cannot turn. This is an evolving subject. Consult with your local soccer shop for more information.

The ‘Secret’ Boot Accessory List

All players should carry a few clear vegetable bags from the supermarket (for stowing wet and muddy boots next to the other clean clothes in your bag), extra laces, a roll of black (plastic) electrical tape, and a sheet of moleskin (to put over that “sharp place” inside the boot.)