Whatever your child's position is on the football field, there's a football cleat for them. Football cleats are made both for the position the play and the type of field where you play. Keep these two important factors in mind when you purchase your football footwear.
Knee, ankle, and foot injuries account for 25% of all documented football injuries, and a third of all football-injury medical costs. Many of these injuries occur in non-contact circumstances, implicating the type of shoe as a risk factor.
Most football players wear one of two types of shoes: "football style" shoes, which have long cleats, or "soccer-style" shoes, which have short cleats. Long-cleat football shoes are associated with a greater incidence and severity of knee and ankle injuries when compared to soccer-style shoes. This is thought to be due to the fact that football-style shoes make the foot temporarily stationary in the turf, and therefore unyielding to any internally-or-externally-applied forces. The foot is planted-stays there as the leg moves-you can quickly see what happens.
Shoe Style
High-tops
Mid-cut
Low-cut
Cleat Types
Molded
Detachable
Shoe Materials
Leather
Synthetics
Determine Your Childs Cleat Size
Shoe Style
Football cleats come in three styles--or heights--to accommodate the varying needs of players by position. High-tops, and low-cut shoes are designed for a specific purpose, so choose the style that best suits your position and needs.
High-tops
High-tops extend up the ankle to provide extra support, especially for lateral movements.
Linemen benefit from this support because of the pressure put on their ankles by the numerous lateral movements during the course of a game.
Mid-cut
A mid-cut shoe offers more support while still allowing maneuverability.
This style best fits the game of skill players- defensive backs, running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks.
Low-cut
Low-cuts are preferred by some players because they are lightweight.
The lower cut provides extra maneuverability to allow you to make quick cuts on the field.
Football Cleat Types
There are two choices: molded and detachable cleats. Most are designed exclusively for either grass or turf fields, so consider what types of fields your child most commonly plays on. If their games are played on both grass and turf, you can opt for a multipurpose cleat. Important note: Some schools, teams, leagues DO NOT allow Metal and/or detachable cleats-ask before you buy.
Molded
These cleats are permanently attached to the outsole on the shoe's bottom.
Turf shoes usually use molded rubber cleats to give you spring and traction on the harder turf surface.
Molded cleats are generally less expensive than shoes with detachable cleats.
Detachable
Detachable cleats use studs that can be removed and replaced to fit field conditions on all types of grass--hard and dry or wet and sloppy.
Their versatility makes detachable cleats preferable if you primarily play on grass.
With a wrench and replacement cleats, you can easily customize your shoes.
You can choose shorter studs for a hard, dry surface and longer studs when you play on a wet, sloppy field.
Shoe Materials
The shoe's upper portion usually is made from either a leather or synthetic material.
Leather
Leather breathes well, which helps keep your feet more comfortable, and is generally more flexible, a big plus in both comfort and function.
Leather is very durable.
Leather shoes are generally more expensive.
Synthetics
Usually less expensive than leather.
Synthetics won't give you the breath-ability and durability of leather.
Most shoes use synthetic materials somewhere, especially to provide reinforcement or support in the forefoot, mid-foot and ankle.
Football Shoe Accessories
There are a number of cleat accessories to consider in order to protect your investment and to ensure the best performance.
Buy some extra laces to avoid the frustration of trying to tie a broken lace together in the car or during a game.
Consider applying protection to the cleats, especially leather. Mink oil conditions the leather so it's softer and more comfortable and it also protects from rain, snow, sun, and keeps water out.
Buy replacement cleats in a variety of sizes and make sure you have a cleat wrench to remove and replace cleats, if you buy a shoe with detachable cleats.
Replacement cleats generally run in 1/2-, 5/8-, 3/4- and 1-inch sizes. Having all four sizes gives you more options for different field conditions.
Determine Your Child's Cleat Size
Determining proper shoe size is essential to a comfortable fit for football cleats.
Don't assume their shoe size is the same as it is with other shoes.
Links:
[1] https://www.momsteam.com/forums