Essential Gear for Travel Salvo Soccer Club Players: Ages 9-19

So your young soccer player has leveled up their skills and is ready to join Salvo Soccer Club’s travel soccer teams. We love to see young players with a dedicated love of soccer, and we nurture that love through mentoring, coaching, and specialized training.

This means that your rising star needs upgraded soccer gear. With the right shoes, shin guards, and training gear, your child can be outfitted to play travel soccer with Salvo SC. 

Read on to learn more about what gear your child needs as they progress through their Salvo SC career. 

The Right Soccer Cleats (Boots)

Travel soccer often involves playing on various surfaces, so having high-quality cleats, also known as boots, is essential. Depending on the type of field your child is playing on, they may need a few different kinds of cleats. 

The types of cleats your child may need include: 

• Firm Ground (FG): natural grass, firm surfaces

• Soft Ground (SG): Wet, muddy natural grass

• Artificial Turf (AG): Artificial grass or turf

• Turf (TF): Artificial turf or hard, dry natural surfaces

• Indoor (IN/IC): Flat, non-marking outsoles for indoor surfaces

As your child progresses through their soccer career, the need for touch, responsiveness, agility, and speed increases. Shoe choices should reflect this progression and work well for your child. Since everyone is different, your child may have to work through different brands of cleats to find the one that suits them best. 

Higher-quality uppers that offer a better ball feel and a more customized fit can benefit more mature players; however, proper fit remains paramount to prevent blisters, chafing, and injuries. Encourage your players to try on shoes with soccer socks and consider their foot shape. 

A quality FG boot is the foundation of a soccer player’s game. For those frequently playing on artificial turf, investing in a dedicated AG boot is highly recommended to optimize performance and prevent premature wear on FG boots.

Advanced or elite players (ages 17-19) must focus on cleats made from premium materials, lightweight construction, ultimate ball feel, maximum agility and speed, and a personalized fit.

Choose Cleats for Position

Unless your child is a jack-of-all-trades soccer player, by now, they likely have a set position or two that they will play throughout their career. Some cleats are better suited for different positions than others. 

Forwards/Strikers

Choose speed cleats that are lightweight and designed for agility. 

Midfielders

Control cleats offer a more cushioned feel and enhanced ball control with a focus on comfort and a wider fit. 

Defenders

Speed cleats are great for defenders who need agility and quick movements, similar to forwards. Leather cleats offer more protection and durability and are often favored for tackling and physical play. 

Goalkeepers

Prioritize comfort and fit for long periods of play. Ensure the shoe has good lockdown, meaning it stays secure on the foot. This is important for quick lateral movements. 

Shin Guards

There are several considerations to keep in mind when selecting shin guards for advancing soccer players. 

1. Players will experience increasing impact levels from tackles and collisions.

2. A secure fit becomes more important as loose shin guards can be ineffective and distracting.

3. Travel soccer involves longer training sessions, so comfort becomes more important.

4. Some players prefer added ankle protection of stirrup or sleeve-style shin guards, particularly during growth spurts or if they have a history of ankle injuries. 

Age Groups

At different ages, players will want to focus on different shin guard specifications, such as: 

• Ages 9-12: Good basic protection, comfortable fit, and ease of use

• Ages 13-16: Enhanced protection, a secure and comfortable fit that doesn’t hinder movement

• Ages 17-19: Maximum protection without sacrificing agility, a secure and comfortable fit for intense play. 

A general recommendation as players progress is to prioritize sleeve or strapped shin guards for a more secure and reliable fit. Consider the level of competition and the player’s position, as well. Investing in guards with a hard shell and adequate padding is crucial. 

For older players, explore advanced protection technologies to see what works best for them. 

Training Gear

Your advanced soccer player will need other training gear for their travel soccer team to be successful. 

Basics include: 

• Multiple, quality soccer balls (size 4 for 9-12 and size 5 for 13-19)

• Training cones or discs for complex drills and larger training groups

• An agility ladder for more challenging and varied agility exercises

• Resistance bands for training

• Soccer rebounder net for at-home or solo practice

• Water bottle & hydration packs

• Durable equipment bag

• Foam roller for muscle recovery and injury prevention

• Agility Poles, which are crucial for advanced dribbling drills, speed and agility work, and creating obstacle courses

Accelerate Your Child’s Soccer Career with Salvo SC

Carefully considering cleats, shin guards, and training equipment allows your travel soccer player to be ready for whatever they need and always find the right fitting equipment for safety and injury prevention. 

With Salvo SC, your soccer player will advance their soccer skills quickly, priming them for advanced play in school leagues, college, or beyond. Our soccer programs for girls and boys are perfect for keeping their skills sharp and encouraging them to follow their passion for soccer. 

Join Salvo SC today and help your child reach their full soccer potential!