Soccer is a game where skill and speed are required more than anything else. It`s all about control the ball with your feet and knowing when to use your body to score goals. By using soccer cleats, players can be able to excel at these aspects of the game.
Why playing soccer in sneakers is traumatic?
Playing in ordinary sneakers can be very traumatic. You need wear suitable soccer shoes for different weather and different surfaces to safe play. Regular shoes don’t have good grip and you just slip. Other than that, you can twist your leg. Regular sneakers are soft and the grip is much better in the cleats. Also, playing in ordinary sneakers, you will ruin them very quickly.
It will be much harder to control the ball in sneakers than in the cleats. Excellent grip allows you to run at top speed and gives you confidence that you won’t twist your leg.
How to choose the right cleats?
While choosing cleats it’s important to know the surface you are going to play on. Special markings have been adopted all over the world to help you choose the right model.
Sole
- SG (Soft Ground). Suitable for soft and natural lawns. Professional soccer players usually play on such fields at the highest level. As a standard, such cleats have from 6 to 8 pointed main spikes and a couple of auxiliary ones made of plastic. Length of spikes is 1.2-1.8 sm. Often the cleats are equipped with replaceable spikes to adjust them to the type of weather or surface. These cleats are not recommended for children under the age of 15, so as not to injure the feet.
- FG (Firm Ground). The cleats for hard, natural or synthetic grass. On the sole there are usually 9 to 14 spikes of average length 1.2-1.5 cm, which are made of plastic or polyurethane. The main spikes are most often conical, and the auxiliary ones already have a trapezoidal or triangular shape. They are considered the most popular among football players.
- MG (Multi Ground). Suitable for all types of fields, except for too soft and hall. Usually, boots with such a sole are chosen when you have to play on different surfaces, and there is no way to take individual pairs. This is a frequent choice for aspiring footballers and is great for kids. The sole usually contains from 12 to 24 spikes of medium and short length 0.8-1.2 cm, and on one boot there are several types of spikes at once.
- TT (Turf). These cleats have many small spikes on the sole, made of rubber. Suitable for playing on artificial turf or on fields with firm ground, minimal grass and even gravel. The thorns are small, usually half a centimeter. Cleats with this sole are quite versatile and can be used not only for soccer, but also for other sports such as running.
- AG (Artificial Grass). Quite new type of boot, which is intended only for playing on artificial fields. In structure, they are very similar to FG, they have from 14 to 28 spines up to one centimeter in size. The cleats, the outsole and the entire construction of the boot are specially designed to distribute pressure to the foot and make it even.
- IT (Indoor). It’s a footwear for playing football in the hall, on the street or even on a concrete surface (on asphalt). The top is a regular classic boot, but the outsole is completely devoid of spikes. However, there is a coating similar to the pattern of a car tire, which allows for good grip on smooth surfaces. In such shoes, you can not only play football, but also run or work out in the gym. But do not play with these boots on natural turf, it is too traumatic.
Top material
Synthetic leather is often used for budget models. In terms of its properties, it is in many ways inferior to natural leather, but it is well suited for beginners and young players, because the material has high strength and resistance to deformation. Waterproofness is also a big plus. When choosing these cleats, it is better to leave a little space for your feet – for example, choose shoes that are half a size or even one size larger. During the game, the foot may swell without getting enough air.
Polyurethane is similar in quality to synthetic leather. Models from it also belong to budget shoe options. Strong, frost-resistant and, moreover, waterproof material. Of the minuses, it is worth noting that the polyurethane does not allow air to pass through. Shoes made of polyurethane stretch and fray quickly due to the elasticity, so your foot should fit snugly in the boot. However, be sure to leave a small space between the fingertips and the toe; the leg may swell a little during training.
Genuine leather is better than synthetic leather, but more expensive. Genuine leather cleats are lightweight and flexible. Air flows freely to the foot, so it does not sweat. Due to their high elasticity, such shoes “remember” your foot, which gives additional comfort, convenience and helps to better feel the ball. Of the minuses – cleats made of genuine leather wear out and get wet faster. Therefore, remember that it will be uncomfortable to play in such cleats in the rain. When trying on, you should know what type of leather was used for your pair. If it is thin kangaroo skin, it is better to choose a tighter one. After a couple of games in such shoes, it gets carried away and you get the most efficient model. If the cleats are made of calfskin, you should choose a pair of exactly the same size.
