Choosing the Correct Soccer Boots

A new pair of soccer boots should be tested for comfort, support and stability, and they must be flexible and have a good grip. They must provide protection against direct contact from either the ball or an opponent.

Go to the sports store in the afternoon as your feet may have swollen slightly by this time and also remember that different manufacturers sizes maybe different...so always try on any pair of boots you intend to buy. Consideration should be made to your foot type and the sports store's staff should be able to assess your requirements.

There should be space of about 7mm to 10mm between your longest toe and the boot material. The tongue should be well padded and with the laces tied...your foot should be protected...supported and feel comfortable.

The type of surface that you will be playing on should also be taken into consideration when choosing the most suitable boots. For example if you are playing on a wet pitch or a pitch that has medium length grass then avoid boots that have blades or metal studs. Short studs are the best option for short grass or hard pitches were the grass is worn away. Blades should not be worn as they would rapidly be worn down on the areas where no grass is present.

Artificial playing surfaces such as Astroturf require shoes with molded studs or short blades. Boots that have long blades can cause serious injury when running...twisting or turning quickly. This is because the longer blades have a tendency to stick in the surface resulting in different amount of damage to both the knee and ankle areas when you move.

Another issue that should be considered when choosing your football boots is the position that you play. Strikers and wingers normally prefer a lightweight boots that will let them accelerate faster and in some cases this means choosing blades. For defenders a good grip is vital and this is the main reason they will look for when choosing their football boots.

Yet another important consideration when buying boots is the comfort level they provide you with. A lot of football boots come in a wider fitting for those with larger sized feet. It is important to remember that you will be wearing them for 90 minutes or more.

Brand new boots can also cause problems when they are used for the first few weeks. Breaking in your new boots is very important for all football players and it is not a good idea to wear brand new football boots in a competitive game as the boots will be very tough on your feet and could cause some painful blisters.

There are many ways you can take to break in your new boots. A popular method with many players is to soak the boots in warm water. The water only needs to be warm to the touch but if the water is very hot it can melt the adhesives and materials used on the boot. A simple way to avoid this is to put on some football socks and your new boots with the laces tied up. Then soak in the water for about 15 to 20 minutes and this will help the boots to mould to your personal foot shape.

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