A SELECTION OF HELPFUL GUIDES
Whether you are new to football or a seasoned pro, everybody can use some advice. To help players and parents, we have developed a set of guides which provide hints and tips to help you get the most from the game. The list below provides the basic knowledge to help you get started correctly to ensure that have the correct equipment, clothing fit and related information. More guides and other resources will be made available over time and we are always on the look out for suggestions so please let us know you thoughts. Each item also has links to additional internet resources to provide additional information and further reading.
Current Guides:
The humble football boot has developed significantly in recent years to match the related development of playing surfaces, balls and player skills. The advancements in technology which is now crucial to the performance of football equipment has been lead by big name brands like Adidas, Nike, and Puma, however, even the smaller brands now offer a wide variety of options for boot material, stud design, and stud layout.
The growing availability of playing modern, all weather, playing surfaces like Astro Turf and 3G have fueled the design of boots to the point where it can be a daunting decision regarding which boot to buy, what materials to select and what stud patterm to use. Our advice is to visit a good store in person and try as many as you can before making the final choice and ask for advice if you are unsure. Never just focus on the brand, style, colour or which famous player endorses the model of boots.
Important Note: it is a requirement for junior players to avoid using boots which have 'blade shaped' studs as they have a higher potential to cause injury to other players.
TYPES OF FOOTBALL BOOTS
The size, shape and fitment of football boots vary signiifcantly between brands and models of boots. Even designs which are supposedly in the same model line can be very different in fit and shape. This affects how a players feet will feel when they wear them and how much grip, protection and movement occurs when they are being used.
Proper fitment is crucial to getting the most from your investment in football boots. Improper fitment will lead to issues for player's feet such as swelling, rubbing and other painful conditions which will severely reduce the player's comfort and enjoyment. Having a boot which doesn't fit will also lead to the boots and feet not working correctly in unison, resulting in inadequate or over gripping of the playing surface, loss of energy when trying to
When looking for new boots, it is essential to bring along your regular football socks and to wear them when trying on boots and to lace them up as you would normally intend to - i.e. in the style and tightness that is comfortable for the player. Only then will you get a best condition to find a suitable pair boots.
FOOTBALL BOOT SIZING CHOICES
Another crucial piece of footballing kit is shin guards and just like boots, the modern shin guard comes in a huge variety of designs, styles and construction. Materials tend to be originated from some form of hard plastic although some are now available in carbon fibre and some metal composites too (if you the money or are sponsored!).
Choosing the right style, size and type of shin guard is just as important as choosing the right boots. In general all shin guards derive from three basic templates. They will come integrated straps with or without ankle protectors or they will come without either option as a bare guard. All guards will normally come with some form of padding although ultra light weight designs can sometimes come without even the most minimum of padding.
For junior players, we generally recommend buying guards which have integrated ankle protection and straps to hold them to the player's calves. Some people prefer the addition of using sock tape to wrap around to provide further stability but this is generally not required for junior players. Finally pick the right size length of guard for your child - the top of the guard should be just below the knee joint when worn naturally. Guards which are too short or too long will not provide requisite protection or coudl cause mobility issues.
CHOOSING YOUR SHIN GUARDS
It is fact of life that boot laces will come come loose and may eventually come undone. If boots are not sufficiently tightened around a player's feet they will have a tendency to move around the feet which will lead to discomfort, reduced performance from the boot and potential injufy caused by twisting as the player accelerates.
Believe it or not, there are manny ways to tie laces. Most 'normal' ways of tying laces will provide insufficient retention, but there are several recommended ways which have been developed through trial and error, to achieve a lacing method which will give optimum hold, prevent premature loosening and provide more comfort for players.
There are several factors to consider when deciding on which lacing method to use. Among the most important factors will be the design of the boots, the type and number of lacing holes, the length of the laces and the materials of both the boot uppers and the laces. If you have a laceless boot you can obviously ignore these things, but every one else can get ahead by choosing a better lacing method than the one employed by the shop or factory - most of which is designed for display purposes only.
OPTIONS FOR LACING YOUR BOOTS
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When football training it is better to use the correct sizes of balls and goals to ensure proper development of player skills and to limit the likelihood of injury - i.e. using equipment that is too big or too heavy will not provide the correct environment, feedback or feel.
There are officially three sizes of football classificed by FIFA which range from size 3 to size 5 - 3 being the smallest and lightest and 5 being the official adult match grade size. Modern footballs are made of synthentic materials which improve their durability and workability. Each successively generation of design had been light ther previous meaning that players only need to worry about selecting the right size.
There are also many variations of goal size for both professional and recreational use. Again, it is recommended that if possible you select the right sizing for the players who will be using them otherwise any skills and experience they gain will be out of scale to what they will face in official match environments. The material used in goal construction tend to favour strong plastics however, metal is also available. It is recommended that recreational goal net fitments are used as it is easier to find replacements and less complicated to put up.
FOOTBALL AND GOAL SIZES
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During autumn and winter months it may be appropriate for players to wear additional 'base layers' or 'heat wear' under their football tops or even have undershorts made of similar materials. These types of clothing was first development for extreme cold weather sports and have severel useful properties which have made them universal in other sports.
A true base layer (as opposed to any under garment) will be made on synthentic materials which allow the body to breath. Many designs will have some form of direct or micro-venting to help promote airflow to specific parts of the body where it is needed. Finally, although base layers tend to be form fitting or tight against the skin, they are engineered to wick away moisture to keep wearers dry.
It is recommended to use some form of based layer on the upper body to help regulate temparature during physical training activities. The base layers will also add an additional layer of protection against scraps and scuffs etc. Many options for base layers are available in both tight and loose fitting styles. It is recommended that players try them to see which provides the most comfort.
HEAT WEAR AND BASE LAYERS
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FOOTBALL BOOT STUD CHOICES
If you have football boots with a moulded sole-plate - i.e. the studs are part of the based of the boot and typically made of the same materials - then you don't need this guide.
If you have removable or separate studs then guide will help you make sense of the options available for replacing or upgrading them. Basically, there are several things you must consider when replacing your studs such as size, shape, make and material.
Not all replacement studs will fit all boots and indeed not all boots will allow different studs to be installed. It often depends upon the manufacturer and design of the boots. There are upsides and downsides to some styles of studs and contrary to popular belief it is possible to install rugby style studs to football boots and vice versa - where rugby studs generally tend to be taller and fatter in design as they are normally used on soft ground.
There are also stud options which are multi-material, combining the characteristics of plastic and metal in a single stud design. The key is determining what type of ground you will be playing on and selecting studs to suit, ensuring that they are fitted correctly.
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GUIDE TO FOOTBALL PLAYING SURFACES
Although football is still traditionally played on natural grass pitches, other options have been developed to provided a broader choice of playing surfaces, and even with natrual grass, there have been advancements in grass type and substrate based which are designed to improve durability and traction.
Our players will experience a number of surfaces during the course of the season while playing at different local schools and facilities. The most contrasting surface we play on is the 3G pitches located at the back of Tiddenfoot Leisure Centre and Cedars School, which provide one of the most modern artificial grass conditions available in the local area. However, it is not necessary to go out and buy all options as our guide will tell you.
Different grass surfaces require difference playing styles and sometimes they also require different clothing, boots and equipment to ensure safe usage. Manufacturers know this and have catered for the conditions with many design choices - specfiically in sole-plate configurations applied to different styles of upper boot designs (read our guide to boot choices).