Choosing the right pair of soccer boots for children is a decision upon which some time should be invested. Gone are the days of pulling on Dad’s old pair of boots and taking to the field, or scrapping around the rejects bin to find a matching pair.
 
Putting the right pair of soccer boots on your child from the start, will make a difference in the long run. Just as picking out a pair of high heels, or a pair of loafers, there are many factors to take into consideration when it comes to soccer shoe selection.

Naturally the children themselves will be drawn to the flashiest of pair with the cool go-faster stripe design, or the brightly colored ones which they have seen their heroes like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo wearing.

Coveting the same footwear in order to emulate the players that they admire the most is important for the child, as they will feel comfortable, confident and better equipped to take on the rigors of the game.

While that may be a great guide to get you started, because the children are not the ones ultimately paying for the soccer boots, the parents have to weigh up a few more options, as opposed to just how cool a certain soccer shoe will look on the feet of their child. While style is high on the child’s list of wants, for the parents, it is one of the factors which will slide further down their list.
 
 
There are different types of soccer shoe available, and they will have different benefits when it comes to the game. There are soccer boots with plastic molded grips to take a look at, the more old fashioned style of screw in plastic (or in some cases metal) studs, or boots with less prominent grips on the bottom which are used for artificial surfaces.

So where the child will be playing the game is important to know as it should influence the shopping decision of the parent. The soccer shoes with the molded studs are one of the most popular styles in the modern age, that is because they are lightweight, durable and easy to clean.

While spraying down the child’s boots at the end of the day sounds a match winner (as opposed to unscrewing studs to get the turf out), one of the other benefits of molded studs on soccer boots, is that if there is a collision between studs and leg of an opposing player, molded soccer shoes are less likely to do as much damage as screw in studs.

Thinking of safety is a parental duty, so this is something to bear in mind. The molding style of these types of boot will vary, but all are designed to give as much grip as possible and some even aim to benefit speed as well on the turf. Basically the molded stud is a very good option to get started with, because they are comfortable, more flexible on the feet and that comfort factor is essential when playing.

Finding the extra quality in leather boots too, really will make a difference to your child’s comfort, because the are more malleable to the shape of the foot. There are three basic options when it comes to category of soccer shoe:

Indoor Soccer Boots

If your child is playing inside in five a side soccer matches in the gymnasium for example, then you will want to take the shoes designed for harder surfaces. These give better coverage of the sole on the surface to absorb more shock, and to apply more grip when turning with speed. These are also great for indoor fitness training as they provide great support for stamina, control and speed workouts.

Artificial Turf Soccer Boots

These vary a little bit from the indoor style of boot, but are not too far removed. They are a happy medium between indoor and outdoor boots. Soccer shoes designed for artificial turfs have extra depth in their grips on the soles compared to the indoor shoes, so not only are they great for surfaces like Astroturf, but work very well on particularly hard conditions under foot outdoors as well. It is always a great idea to keep these around as a back up pair for the season. There will usually come a point where your child want need to switch to them.

Outdoor Soccer Boots

There are different outdoor boots for different surfaces as well, as some styles go for blades instead of the more traditional cleats, while length of screw in studs can vary as well depending on the softness or hardness of the pitch condition. This is where you will want to make the decision over the molded style of boots, or screw in studded ones.

Molded ones are generally de rigueur for children getting started in the game, as they provide more supple comfort under foot and are usually versatile enough for different outdoor grass surfaces. Studded shoes are more practical when facing heavier, muddy pitches.
 
In summary, how and where you child plays the game should influence your choice of footwear. Break the soccer boots down into categories and see which is most important to your child.

Starting with molded soccer shoes and then moving on up to screw in studs is usually the way to go. Switching over to studded shoes is something which may only come in to play during latter child years, when competition starts getting more physical and serious.

Screw in soccer shoes really offer a greater depth of grip into the playing surface so that the wearer doesn’t lose their footing so easily. As a parent buying soccer shoes for a child, it may be a big benefit to get more than one pair. While that may sound like more money, it will be cash well spent.

If your child is playing a long season of soccer, the playing surface over the course of the year will change. Winter months bring surfaces which are either very damp or muddy, and therefore screw in studs would be far preferable for safety in solid footing; so too frozen surfaces may appear in which the child would need to switch over to the molded studs, or better still, the shoes which are designed for artificial surfaces.

The softer spongy surfaces of the summer are better suited to the molded shoes as well, so variety is the spice of soccer shoes, and having options open for your child is important. The right footwear for the right conditions will lessen the stresses on the ankles of the child, reducing risk of injury.

So parents have to think of practicality as well as comfort and the less important style. The child may want the showy pair to impress their friends, the ones with the special stitching to swerve the ball better, but the parents need to ensure that their child’s feet are still firmly on the ground when they are playing the beautiful game.