Soccer Equipment Primer


Soccer, as with any other sport, has it's own particular equipment. We wanted to focus on five main pieces of equipment, 3 of which are mandatory, and two of which may be used by goalies.

The Ball
The soccer balls used by Sherrills Ford Optimist come in two different sizes - 3 and 4. The size is age dependent. Although each team will be issued game balls, there will not be enough balls for each player during drills and practice. Please buy an appropriate size ball for your child.  

U6 and U8 use size 3
U10 and U12/13 use size 4
U14 and older uses size 5 (full size ball).



Cleats (Boots)
Soccer cleats, commonly called boots, are slightly different that baseball or other turf cleats. Soccer boots
do not have a toe cleat. The lack of a toe cleat is a safety feature since the foot is often used for reaching in and attempting to steal the ball from a competitor and the boot is also used to kick the ball from the turf. A toe cleat would be dangerous in both situations. Game referees WILL check cleats before the start of a game and WILL NOT allow boots with a toe cleat to be worn.





Shin Guards
As the name suggests, shin guards are pads worn on the player's shins to protect them from injury. Shin guards are an 
ABSOLUTE REQUIREMENT for practice and games. Your child will not be allowed to participate in any practice or game without shin protection. The first check a referee makes before a game is for shin guards. For practices, it is fine to wear the guards over the socks. For games, the shin guards are REQUIRED to be under the game socks.









Goalie Gloves
If your child plays goalie - and most will in U8 for a game or so - you may want to invest in a pair of goalie gloves.     
They have a slightly sticky palm to aid in grabbing the ball and some padding to protect the hands from fast moving balls. These gloves are not a requirement but your player may find them useful.




Protective Cup
To avoid painful injuries, boys playing goalie may wish to wear a protective cup.