Shopping for a Soccer Ball - What's Important?

Size:

• Size 3
  • Smallest ball and is generally used for children under the age of 8

• Size 4
  • For players ages 8 through 13
  • Has a circumference of 25-26 inches and weighs between 12-13 ounces

• Size 5
  • The international standard match ball for all ages 13 and older
  • Weighs between 14-16 ounces and has a circumference of 27-28 inches

Covering:

There are currently two types of synthetic leather covers:

• Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
  • PVC is durable and inexpensive
  • Both water resistant and scuff resistant
  • Great for entry level and youth players

• Polyurethane
  • Polyurethane has a good feel and ideal durability
  • Both water and scuff resistant
  • Usually has a gloss coating for added protection
  • Good for intermediate to advanced players

Paneling:

Soccer balls are designed with a specific panel design to determine how aerodynamic the ball is and how much control a player will feel.

• 32 Panels
  • Most traditional round ball
  • Roundness gives it superior flight and playability

• 20 Panels
  • A 20 panel ball gives the player more control of the ball off of his/her foot
  • Control is important for long passes and precise shots on goal

• 18 Panels
  • Major League Soccer uses an 18 panel design ball
  • 18 panels give the ball better aerodynamics for a true flight and create better control for the athlete

• 6 Panels
  • Indoor soccer leagues use a six-panel design ball
  • Since indoor soccer is extremely fast-paced, a ball with fewer panels aids in moving faster through the air
  • Fewer seams and fewer panels result in less air/wind resistance

Shopping for Shin Guards - What's Important?

Material:

• Fiberglass
  • Fiberglass is lightweight, stiff and offers excellent protection

• Foam Rubber
  • Foam rubber is light and moldable, but offers less protection

• Polyurethane
  • Polyurethane is slightly heavier and less moldable than other shin guard materials but offers extreme protection

• Plastic
  • Plastic is generally less expensive

• Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) Foam or Lycra Backing
  • Commonly found on the backside of all guards for comfort

Ankle Guards:

• Included
  • Many shin guards include padded ankle protectors which attach to the bottom of the guard
  • Protects the ankles and Achilles tendon against direct kicks, but are soft and flexible enough as to not to interfere with movement
  • Strongly recommended for players ages 12 and under

• Excluded:
  • Many shin guards do not include any type of ankle guard
  • This offers less protection to the ankle and Achilles area, but offers improved speed and flexibility

Fit:

• Shin guards should cover most of the area from the ankle to the knee
• Measure the shin from just below where the knee bends to about 1" above the shoe top
• Some manufacturers label the shin guard sizes according to age
• Senior (large) shin guards are generally designed for players taller than 5' 4"
• Junior (medium) shin guards are designed for players shorter than 5' 4"

Compression Sleeves:

• Benefits include:
  • Holding the shin guard firmly in place
  • Providing compression
  • Increasing blood flow
  • Reducing cramping and fatigue
  • Machine washable

Shopping for Cleats - What's Important?

Lacing:

• Traditional Lacing
  • Laces are located on the top of the cleat, as seen on most athletic and casual shoes
  • Traditional lacing offers great support and lockdown of the foot

• Asymmetrical lacing
  • Laces are moved to the lateral side of the shoe
  • Lacing will not interfere with contact to the ball allowing for a cleaner striking surface

Features:

• Tongue Flap
  • Keeps the tongue and laces of the cleat in place
  • Helps prevent laces from coming untied during the course of a game

• Shoelace cover
  • Similar to the tongue flap, a shoelace cover will keep the laces in place and prevent them from coming untied
  • Most importantly, the shoelace cover aids in enabling the player to achieve cleaner contact with the bal

Materials:

• Synthetic Leather
  • A man-made synthetic material that is lighter and less expensive than leather
  • May be used in key areas of an upper for added support
  • Durable and easy to clean

• Kangaroo Leather
  • Premium quality natural leather often used on more expensive cleats
  • It is a thin glove-like material that provides strength, durability and improved feel of the ball

Molded Studs:

• Stable, strong and ideal for beginner and intermediate players
• Outsoles have non-removable hard plastic cleats formed on the bottom of the shoe
• Work well on harder turf surfaces

• Two primary categories:
  • Hard Ground (HG)
  • HG cleats are used on fields with extremely dry grass, dirt and even gravel
  • These surfaces do not require much penetration of the stud in the ground for traction
  • This durable outsole is easy to identify by the greater number of studs, compared to firm ground cleats
  • Firm Ground (FG)
  • FG cleats are the classic soccer cleat with studs designed to provide traction and stability on most outdoor soccer fields

Indoor Cleat:

• Indoor cleats often have a gum rubber outsole with a herringbone pattern , which is designed to stick to smooth hardwood floors

Turf Cleat:

• Turf cleats often feature smaller, hard rubber projections or molded patterns in place of studs/cleats
• They can help prevent shin splints especially on hard indoor/outdoor surfaces and artificial turf