Are you wondering about what equipment is needed to play soccer? Or whether there is an official soccer equipment list that every player (kids, youth, adults) needs to have?
Below is a list for not only what a player needs, but equipment for the whole family as well.
In short, there are some basic things every player must have in order to play.
You see, some teams or leagues will not allow any player to play without wearing the required or basic soccer equipment.
And keep this in mind:
The right equipment will protect your child from getting injuries. That being said, not only do players need equipment, but referees and coaches also do.
However, in this post, l will cover the basic equipment players and parents might need. I will cover the basic equipment coaches and referees need in another post.
Soccer equipment list for players.
The basic soccer equipment every player needs are: soccer cleats, shin guards, soccer socks, jersey, soccer shorts, and a soccer ball.
Soccer cleats are sometimes referred to as boots in some countries like England and Ghana (Where I’m from). l also called them boots until l moved to the United States.
The cleats will protect your child’s feet; especially when they get stepped on. A good cleat will provide comfort, durability, increase performance and simply help you stay on your feet.
The type of soccer cleat you buy will also depend on the playing field. For example: turf, grass, hard ground, indoor, soft ground, etc.
As a parent myself, one thing we can do to help our kids is to keep track of their shoe size. You do not want your kid to feel uncomfortable in their soccer shoes. Because it will affect their game.
2. Shin guards
Soccer is a contact sport. And the only way to protect your shin from cuts and injuries is to wear a shin guard.
As a soccer player myself, there have been many occasions where wearing a shin guard saved me from many injuries.
I highly recommend you get one for yourself or child.
Personally, l do not play soccer without a shin guard. The shin guard must fit securely in the socks.
3. Soccer socks
The socks used for soccer are thicker, longer in length (knee length), and will protect your child’s feet from blisters.
The socks also help to keep the shin guards in place.
A shirt/ jersey is worn to help identify which team a player is part of. Both teams in a given game can not wear the same jerseys.
The shirts can be long sleeved or short sleeved depending on the weather and the team/ player preference.
As the name suggests, its just like a regular shorts. The only difference between regular shorts is, soccer shorts are made for specifically soccer players.
Soccer shorts are very durable and enable players to stretch their legs with ease without easily tearing apart like regular shorts. They also help you stay cool during a game.
6. Soccer ball
A soccer ball is needed for any soccer game to take place. Without a soccer ball, a soccer player can not really do much.
One thing to consider when choosing a ball is the size of the ball. There are 5 official sizes for soccer balls for different age groups. I will be covering the different sizes in a future blog post.
If your child is a goalie, him/ her will need a protective goalkeeper’s gloves for their hands. This is very important as it will help prevent a lot of injuries from catching and punching the ball.
The gloves also provides a better grip for making saves and holding the ball; especially when the ball is wet.
Other equipments used in soccer you should also consider are:
* A ball pump to pump the soccer ball.
* BPA free water bottles or glass water bottle for water storage.
* A soccer equipment bag to carry all the soccer equipments.
* Warm sweatshirt, sweat pants, and turtleneck shirts for playing in cold weather.
* Long spandex pants.
* Mouth guards.
* An electrolite drink such as coconut water or Gatorade.
* Collapsible soccer goal / net and cones. You can use this if a goal post is not available on the soccer field.
Before you purchase any equipment, please talk to the team coach or league representatives to see what color you should buy. This applies especially for socks, jerseys, and shorts.
If you are not sure about where to buy these items, you can check out Amazon.com or your local sports shop.
Ideally, you want your child to have two of each equipment, just in case one gets lost, destroyed, or is misplaced. Some of the equipment above cost anywhere between $5 and $100. It really depends your needs and preference.
Soccer equipment list for the whole family.
For parents, what you need the most is to understand the rules of the game. And how the game is played. You can easily learn soccer so don’t think otherwise. The best way is by watching soccer games.
As a parent you might need one or more of the following equipments:
1. Foldable chairs or stadium chair for sitting on bleachers.
2. A soccer first aid kit. It’s always good to come prepared to each soccer game. Emergencies happen when you least expect.
3. An umbrella.
4. Cooler.
5. BPA free water bottle. Or glass water bottle.
6. A good camera for taking pictures or recording the game. You can even use a smart phone.
7. A blanket to cover up when the weather is cold.
8. Trash / plastic bags to store the dirty equipments and clothing.
9. A heated seat cushion for the cold seats.
10. A collapsable wagon. You will only need this wagon if you have lots of items to carry from your car to the soccer game.
11. Sunscreen.
12. Neck cooler. When your neck feels hot, you can use this to cool off.
13. Lots of water. I mean lots of it.
14. A hat and sunglasses for the sunny days.
15. Headband to keep ears warm during the cold seasons.
16. Snacks.
Whether you are going to training, practice, or to watch your kids game, these are the basic soccer equipment you will need.
Image courtesy Jarmoluk