Anybody have any suggestions on brand or store to get some boots for a 4-year old? My son is going to start playing this spring, so I told him we would look for some boots while he is with me over the holidays. I would like something comfortable and well-made. Also, any of you with kids playing: At what age do they need to start wearing shinguards? I don't remember wearing guards until I was about 12 or so, when people could do some damage with a kick. As he is going to be playing with other 4-year olds, I can't see any of them being able to get enough speed to do any damage, but my ex-wife insists that he needs them. I think at that age they will hamper more than help. Any suggestions?
If it's good enough for Henry, Vieira and Freddie, it's good enough for your kid -- buy Nike. While shinpads at this age may not be necessary, they may make him feel more like a "real player." I would say buy them, let him try them, and if he doesn't like them, he doesn't have to wear them. They're probably only about 10 bucks for that age. Again, buy Nike.
Most leagues require shin guards at any age. My 4 year old is about to start and their league requires it. I would agree with Rick on the boots but Adidas is all Ive ever found in a size that small. Nike seems to make baseball and basketball shoes for 4 year olds but Ive seen no soccer boots. We got our Adidas at a local mega sports store.
Coach, There are several places I would check out in the Dallas Area to find some good quality Nike boots. 1. Academy Sports and Outdoors-4 or 5 over the Dallas area. 2. Sports City-Desoto. It is a small building, but they seem to have a wide selection of things including shin guards. Helpful people too. 3. Champs at your local mall. 4. Just For Feet-if they are still in the area. 5. Foot Locker at your local mall. Hope this helps.
Ummm, thanks, but this was a post from December, 2002. He already has some boots. In fact, I just bought him his second pair.
Coach, go to www.epicsoccer.com, or www.shoebacca.com and take a look for some good boots. Of course, I'm assuming he plays on grass, so you'll need real cleats rather than turf shoes. As far as shinguards go, FIFA Law 4 requires them now, so you might as well get him used to it. Things have changed, thankfully. Back when you were 12, hell, shinguards were still made sometimes out of foam rubber They certainly won't hamper him in the least. They needn't be the over-the-ankle variety. You can probably find some slip-ins in that size. Cripes, take a look at Landon Donovan's 4-inch shinguards (if you dare).
Again, guys, thanks for the tips, but the kid is now on pair of boots 2 and has a couple of seasons under his belt. His third season is just wrapping up, and he's becoming quite the defender. Tmaker, you mentioning shinguards brings up a funny story. My son still lives with his mother in North Carolina. I got all his gear for him, and sent it out to her. The first day of soccer practice during his first season, she and her (clueless) new husband send the poor kid out to practice with his over-the-ankle shinguards OVER HIS SOCKS! She e-mailed me a pic of his first practice that night, and did I have a laugh, especially when I told her what was wrong, and she said that "McGuirk the Younger" tried to tell her that shinguards went under the socks, but she and new hubby thought they went over. Thank the Lord I intervened before his team nicknamed him "shinguard" for his (bad) fashion statement. BTW, Rick, we did go with Nike, and now he's a bit of a Nike elitist. Another little Nike Nazi, sprung on the world.