| Choosing the right soccer gear can be a difficult | | | | equipment. It only makes sense. Most of the action is |
| chore. It doesn't matter whether you are choosing | | | | in that area of your body. |
| youth soccer gear, or gear for adults. It doesn't have | | | | - Soccer Socks!Soccer socks are used to hold your |
| to be painful. But with so many choices available, you | | | | shin guards in place and are part of a complete |
| need to ensure that the gear is of good quality, and | | | | soccer uniform. They used to be so plain and boring. |
| will last through the soccer wars. | | | | Red, blue, green, yellow. You get the picture. But |
| Buying cheap soccer gear will sometimes have you | | | | with increased interest in soccer comes increased |
| buying that same item more times. That will make it | | | | options for colors. Can you say Fuschia soccer socks? |
| more expensive in the long run. Many times it is best | | | | - Soccer Shorts!Baggy shorts are not soccer shorts. |
| to spend a little more up front and buy longer lasting | | | | They may be in-style but that does not mean that |
| gear. | | | | they are good for the soccer field. The less |
| With my over 30 years in soccer I have made some | | | | restrictive your shorts are, the better it is for your |
| good choices, and some bad choices when choosing | | | | game. They also have to fit your team's uniform and |
| soccer gear. | | | | take the beating that sliding, diving, and falling down |
| I have to laugh when I look in my gear bag and see | | | | will give them. |
| a pair of turf shoes that I have had for over 20 | | | | - Soccer Jerseys!Your soccer jersey will express the |
| years. Obviously I haven't played a lot of games on | | | | personality of your team. And of course it should |
| turf! But they were definitely a good choice. And I | | | | blend well with your shorts and socks. However |
| can actually still wear them! | | | | some people want to buy replica soccer jerseys to |
| Start at the Bottom! | | | | support their favorite soccer club. Those are available |
| - Soccer footwear!Whatever position you play, it | | | | for every major soccer team in the world. |
| doesn't matter. You could be playing as a goalie, | | | | - Soccer Goalkeeper Gear!Outfitting a soccer |
| midfielder, defender, or striker. Sneakers are not the | | | | goalkeeper is the same as any player on the field, |
| way to go! Unless you want to continually slip around | | | | with a few differences: |
| and miss the ball because you can't get your foot | | | | - Goalkeepers wear shorts or long pants with padding |
| planted. You will never improve your soccer game | | | | on the hips. This padding helps prevent injuries from |
| that way. | | | | the numerous times that they dive for a ball during a |
| - Indoor or outdoors?Indoor soccer shoes are flat | | | | game. |
| bottomed and made of a material that is more firm | | | | - Goalkeepers wear special goalkeeper gloves to give |
| than a standard sneaker. | | | | them a better grip on the ball. |
| Outdoor soccer shoes come in models made for hard | | | | - A goalie jersey usually has padding on the elbows |
| fields, firm fields, or soft / wet fields. Some have | | | | to reduce the impact on their bodies when they land. |
| removable cleats so you do not have to buy a new | | | | With all that gear, a great choice to carry it all is a |
| pair of cleats if one or two studs wear down early. | | | | soccer backpack. |
| - Soccer Shin Guards!Not only do they prevent injury, | | | | I actually still have some soccer uniforms from when |
| they are now a mandatory piece of soccer | | | | I was 16. Go figure? |