Shoes are the most important piece of equipment for a soccer player, notes soccer writer Joe Provey in "The Confident Coach's Guide to Teaching Youth Soccer." The feet do much of the work in soccer, and therefore must be clad appropriately. If you play recreational soccer, you'll likely want at least two pairs of outdoor shoes; you may need additional pairs tailored to your game situation if you play competitively.
Turf Shoes
The outsoles of outdoor soccer shoes come in three types: turf, firm ground and soft ground. Turf shoes, with uppers made of leather or synthetic material, feature stronger arch support than the other two types and an outsole of projecting small rubber nubs. They are more comfortable for slightly overweight players since they typically have additional cushioning. Designed for artificial turf, a player can get double or triple duty out of turf shoes on completely dry natural turf and even indoor arena surfaces.
Firm Ground
Shoes designed for firm ground have 12 medium-length studs or blades, Provey writes. Models may have outsoles made of polyurethanes of different densities, soft at the sole and stud base and hard at the toe for durability. Other versions have rubber outsoles. Firm-ground shoes can see all-round outdoor use for most fields and conditions. Prices for adult outdoor shoes range from $15 to $400 as of 2011, with leading sports-equipment manufacturers represented throughout the price spectrum. Youth outdoor shoes run $15 to $100.
Women's Shoes
Equipment manufacturers also make firm-ground shoes that are for women specifically. These shoes are built using a narrow last, or mold. Prices range from $25 to $200. Women with wider feet may prefer regular adult models. Women with very small feet can save money by purchasing a youth shoe.
Soft Ground
For players high school age or older, soft ground shoes work well to provide traction on damp or muddy ground. These feature changeable studs or a bladed outsole. The studs are longer than on firm ground shoes and fewer in number, at six to 10. This design prevents mud from clinging to the sole. You can buy replacement studs, which may feature metal tips, separately, and customize them to specific playing conditions, Eurosport notes.
Considerations
Provey suggests mentioning to parents that for the price of one pair of high-performance shoes, they can obtain multiple pairs of good and reasonably priced shoes and be prepared for turf, firm ground and soft ground. "If they can afford only one pair of outdoor shoes, recommend firm ground shoes," he advises. If a player can only afford two pairs, go for a turf shoe and either a firm or soft ground shoe. Practice outdoors in turf shoes, unless rain has made the field sloppy, as they provide more comfort and less stress to the foot.
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