Equipment

When your son plays contact or collision sports, there is always the risk of testicular injury.  To protect against such injury, boys need to wear a cup.

Soccer headgear may reduce injury risk from collision of head with hard surface (another head, ground, goalpost) but not from repeated heading of soccer ball.

A year after requiring soccer shinguards to meet National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) standards, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Soccer Rules Committee will now require the front of the shinguard to be permanently marked with the NOCSAE seal and height range, effective in fall 2012.

Types of soccer cleats include molded cleats, detachable cleats, indoor soccer shoes and turf shoes.

Because the mid-sole material of an athletic shoe takes a pounding and eventually loses its ability to provide your child's foot with adequate support or cushioning, experts, such as Dr. Michael Lowe, past President of the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine, and long time team podiatrist of the NBA's Utah Jazz, recommend periodic replacement of athletic shoes, even if the bottom sole shows no sign of excessive wear.

One of the great things about youth soccer is that it isn't an expensive sport. Here what your child will need...

Soccer Cleats are specifically designed for use on a soccer field and can be changed depending on conditions. Cleat types include molded cleats, detachable cleats, indoor soccer shoes and turf shoes: