Although playing soccer in bare feet is a great way to develop your soccer touch and strengthen your feet, you will need to buy a pair of soccer cleats. It will likely be the most expensive item of soccer gear that you get, but they are essential to have if you want to play well and play competitively.
You may need more than one pair of soccer boots so that you can pay in different field conditions. Although you can buy soccer shoes that have screw-in cleats which means that you can change them at half-time to adjust to changes in conditions. Apparently, top players like David Beckham wear a new pair of studs for every game.
The number of studs or cleats on the sole varies as does the way in which they are positioned. What studs do you need for the field that is wet and muddy? Longer studs. What studs do you need if the field is dry and hard? Shorter ones. The studs allow for sharp turns and long passing and are vital for dribbling with the ball.
Did you know that the referee (or an assistant) needs to check the studs of every player entering the field of play and will not allow to play anyone wearing soccer boots with sharp edges or protruding nails?
How to buy soccer cleats?
The best boots are made with top quality leather uppers and light synthetic soles. They are comfortable (like carpet slippers), long-lasting and enable you to put spin on the ball if you know what you are doing. You can now buy very colorful soccer boots, but the classic design is black and white trim.
When buying a pair of boots, make sure that they are comfortable, fit well, especially in the width, and are flexible in all directions, including the sole (the bottom of the boot). There are four different types of football boots: moulded studs, screw-in studs, blades and astroturf trainers. You may want more than one pair for different environments.
For the beginner soccer player who is playing on grass, the best boot is probably a moulded cleat. It pays to get a pair or two of boots that you really like – although they may not turn you into an excellent player nor they may not have a mind of their own like in the classic Comic Strip called:
Billy’s Boots
This Tiger & Scorcher comic strip featured Billy Dane, a schoolboy who was not a good soccer player until he discovered a pair of old style, football boots that had belonged to a famous professional footballer called Jimmy “Dead Shot” Keen. These boots possessed special abilities which turn Billy into a fantastic football player when he wore them. He would score great goals, lead him to be in the right place at the time on the pitch like they had a mind of their own.
(This article was first published on my old site: Soccer Skills For Beginners in 2011)