Please rec gear for rec soccer?

[Susie]

DD (5) is starting rec soccer this fall.  Low key, but she needs shin guards, and cleats are recommended (I'm fine with buying them).  She already has a size 3 ball.  

I haven't played soccer since I was about the same age, so this isn't super familiar territory for me.  I started shopping online and got overwhelmed.  Apparently all the reviews say Adidas shin guards are sized super small so you have to size up.  Anyone want to rec any particular shin guards or cleats, or where to shop?  She's in the low 40-some inches tall (haven't measured in a while), and size 11 shoe.

[VillainV]

I would recommend going to Dick’s sporting goods or a similar store and trying stuff on. Target also has cleats, shin-guards, and socks in store you can look at.

[ellipses84]

Most shin guards are packaged in a way you can’t try them on unless you rip open the package. DS2 is a similar size and we have adidas cleats and size small Lotto shin guards, just because that was cheapest at the sportswear store. He’s having lots of sensory issues about socks and cleats lately (for Tball too), so he complains the shin guards are tight and doesn’t like the bottom strap, but the leg length is fine.

I put them on over socks for practice but the socks are supposed to go over the shin guards and the coach said they could wear double socks under and over to help with the feeling of the straps.

[hbomdiggity]

I like the shin guards that just slip under the socks.

Kid size soccer socks can be hard to find, but we have some soccer shops that partner with the rec league and sell kits.

[CrazyLucky]

I suggest NOT getting the shin guards that are slid on over your foot. Little kids can't do it themselves and you have to help. Putting them on before practice is one thing. Taking them off after practice, when they're sweaty and stinky and hard to get off their feet, is more of a test of your parental love.
I second going to Dicks. They have a house brand. A five year old should be fine with the DSG brand. They grow so fast that you only get one season of use out of any shoes or shin guards anyway.

[pooh8402]

We get most of E1's stuff from Academy. We have a nice local sporting goods store but it is limited for his age/size. We don't have a Dick's, the closest is a 5 hour drive. *Cries*

We like the shin guards that have an ankle stirrup. E1 likes that they stay in place better than the ones that strap around his leg and he said they don't hurt/more comfortable to wear. They are more difficult to put on and take off but it's worth it for him to not complain about the actual wearing. We go ahead and open the package to try on, they are all resealable.

We do get his cleats from our local sports store, but Academy/Dick's should have soccer cleats as well. I wouldn't go super expensive at this age, they grow out of them so fast.

No need for a net for backyard practice or whatever. Just set up two objects a few feet apart and practice kicking between them.

He just wore regular old tshirts and shorts or pants for practice. For colder games, we have some leggings specifically meant for keeping warm to wear under his shorts. For games, we buy a jersey each season, shorts and socks to match, if we don't already have some. And E1 wears the same socks for soccer and baseball so score for us. We also get parent tshirts to wear on the sidelines but those are optional. I prefer to make mine in neutral colors so I can wear the same shirt for both sports (he has the same number for both sports).

That's about it for E1's first year. We're starting our third soccer season in a couple weeks and all we need are new cleats (next size up, his old ones are still very functional though) and new leggings but I'm holding off on those until it gets colder.

[cherry1111]

We also went to Dicks and got a pack of shin guards, socks, cleats, and a ball for like $35. The shin guards are the ones that slip under the socks.

[thebreakfastclub]

Dicks sells these items bundled together as a youth soccer package under their own brand.

[osulori]

We've always gotten AJ's shin guards and cleats at Dick's. He has the shin guards with the ankle stirrup and the ones that slide into their socks and overall I think he likes the ankle stirrup ones best but they are a massive PITA for him to get off by himself because his feet are sweaty (on isn't as hard). The Dick's store brand guards are all he's ever gotten and we think they've been fine. Sizing goes by height and I think it's pretty accurate.

[beerlover]

Thanks for posting this Susie, my DS (5) start soccer Monday for the first time also and I'm kind of lost. Will be following this for recs.

I had H pick him out some shin guards on Amazon so I hope they're OK. We have a pair of hand-me-down cleats from a friend that are slightly too big but will be OK for the first week of practice, but I'm going to be looking to get him his own.

[af1212]

I would not buy anything and ask around on fb or somewhere for someone’s hand me downs.

[Deleted]

If you're in a big soccer town, check out local soccer shops. They usually have sizes available to try on and the pricing isn't THAT different, plus it's nice to support a small local business. Our local soccer store has gear at all price ranges and also has a seconds / last sizes section. We usually just pick through that area and have gotten some great deals on things.

[mccallister84]

Aug 20, 2021 12:23:47 GMT -5 af1212 said:

I would not buy anything and ask around on fb or somewhere for someone’s hand me downs.

Yes. We just two sets of shin guards from a friend who posted them on FB. I bet if you did an ISO you’d find stuff pretty easily.

[CloudBee]

I also suggest going somewhere like Dick's. For months they've had Adidas youth cleats on sale for $19.

[preppy]

DD1 is the same age and starting soccer for the first time. I got her cleats at a kid consignment sale but the shin guards and socks at Olympia Sports, they had a lot of options and sizes. I tried it all on her today and have never played soccer myself and it was hard to get the socks over the shin guards!

[imojoebunny]

Walmart has shin guards. I get those because for whatever reason my dog thinks they are super fun to chew. They are cheap, under $10, and work well for the littles.

[Susie]

Aw man, basically all the options I was looking at are out of stock at the Dick's near us. Hmph! But thanks for the suggestions.

[orval]

I second the Wal mart suggestion. That is where I got my ds's cleats and shin guards. Nothing fancy at their age.

[mcppalmbeach]

Aug 20, 2021 21:29:33 GMT -5 Susie said:

Aw man, basically all the options I was looking at are out of stock at the Dick's near us. Hmph! But thanks for the suggestions.

Dicks typically ships super fast, just order them online. If you order in store you will get free shipping. My kiddos will only play wiffle ball with the wiffle brand balls. You can’t find them anywhere! Dicks was out and we ordered in store at like 4pm Sunday and somehow had them by Monday afternoon. We’ve typically gotten things within 3 days. Dicks is also really good about price matching things.

[SusanBAnthony]

Dicks also has a woman CEO and is one of the only sporting goods stores that seems to care about women, so another good reason to give them your business.

[soccermama]

DS just started soccer as well, we got his shin guards and cleats from Dick's. I got his soccer ball at Walmart.

[CloudBee]

A friend cold me that in the fall Target often stocks Umbro brand cleats and shinguards.

[expectantsteelerfan]

When my kids were starting soccer, we were living on a MAJOR budget, and I searched consignment stores/sales/bst sites for this stuff for the first 2 years (also buying ahead for future years), and then one year we didn't have anything in the right size. Our athletic association sends out a 20% off Dicks coupon every time you sign up for a sport (usually only good for 1 specific weekend) and local moms talked the Dicks bundle up, so I went and got both kids cleats, shin guards, and balls for basically a better price than if I had bought it all used (our Dicks has a few different bundles and the Umbro brand one was cheapest for us).