What Equipment Is Needed for Soccer? [Complete Guide]

Soccer is now one of the fastest-growing sports in America. It is an excellent way for people to learn sportsmanship, discipline, and work as a team. Soccer, surprisingly, also offers plenty of ways to express yourself creatively with dribbling drills and playacting.

Before you turn up to your first session on the field, it’s handy to get together some basic kit and equipment. We have put together this list of items that are essential for every soccer player:

From the above, you should be able to visualize what’s needed to participate in soccer. Admittedly not everything is mandatory, but indeed the kit. To understand these products a little bit further, I suggest you read the below.

Equipment Needed

Buying the right soccer kit can be a minefield. These days, there are such options, and making the right choice involves knowing what’s best for you. The clothes you wear, even when practicing, are an essential part of helping you move and keeping you safe.

We’ve put together a brief football kit buying guide to help you get started. Whether you’re searching for the right socks, summer shirt, or shin pads, it’s good to know exactly what your options are.

Shirt

Summer: Adidas has used their exclusive Climalite fabric for this short-sleeved jersey. It features an innovative double-layer design combining a cotton outer and a “cool-to-the-touch” inner layer.

This type of absorbent fabric helps pull the sweat away from the skin so your body can stay cool and, most importantly, dry. You will love to use this jersey, especially in the summer season.

The jersey comes in a wide range of sizes, from x-small to xx-large, giving you plenty of room to move your shoulders and body around freely. It’s mostly true to size, but some claim it can run a little large.

Winter: You might think of soccer as a summer sport, but leagues can carry on into the colder months. To play the game at your best, you need to stay warm, keep your muscles loose, and reduce the possibility of injury. The key to staying warm is dressing for the cold weather.

Again, Adidas has included their exclusive Climalite fabric for this long-sleeved jersey. The double-layer design combines a cotton outer and a “cool-to-the-touch” inner layer.

This fabric helps pull the sweat away from the skin so your body can stay cool and, most importantly, dry. You will need this jersey, especially in the winter season. 

The jersey comes in various sizes, from x-small to xx-large. It’s mostly true to size, but some claim it can run a little large. 

Shorts

Summer: Leagues worldwide advise players to wear shorts when playing soccer in summer. It is more comfortable for soccer players to run long distances in shorts because they avoid hindering these movements. 

Thanks to the synthetic fabric in these men’s shorts, they are very light and avoid the rubbing or friction that running can cause.

These men’s soccer shorts make sure you’re comfortable as you hone your skills. They’re made of moisture-wicking fabric to keep you dry and have mesh details on the back for extra ventilation.

Winter: Winter on the training ground will require some decent track pants. It can get pretty cold, so you want something to keep your muscles warm to stop them from being pulled. That being said, you don’t want anything too thick; even in winter, you’ll get far too hot running around.

These Adidas Tiro track pants are perfect for the job, lightweight, and water-absorbent with AEROREADY technology; they have a classic on-the-pitch, tapered style. Not too tight and not too loose to keep you at the perfect temperature.

Socks

Socks are an integral part of your soccer kit. Even though socks may seem like unimportant pieces of clothing, they are one of the most important. The advantages of socks exceed their ability to complete attire. If you were to run around without socks, you would end up getting blisters from your foot sliding around in your shoe.

Soccer players feet go through an intense amount of impact and pressure that the right sock can protect you from. Socks even have a part to play in muscle stamina with the proper support.

These Adidas Copa Zone socks tick every box for what a soccer sock needs to do.

The compression around the ankle provides support, a breathable mesh built right into the fabric, and cushioning at the heel and toe for added protection. 

Learn more about why soccer players wear long socks.

Shin Guards

Shin guards protect your shins from exposure to tackles. Our shin bones are not adequately insulated by muscle and tissue. Their position and closeness to the action in soccer (our feet) make them especially susceptible to injury.

Without sufficient protection in that area, you are not allowed to play. These lightweight shin guards come with a compression sleeve to slip them into to support the shin further.

Soccer Cleats

There are no specific rules that force you to wear cleats when playing soccer, but they are most definitely necessary. In fact, all players, from youth teams to professionals, have a pair. They are an indispensable part of playing soccer outside because of the grass (whatever time of year).

The studs on the sole of the shoe help really dig into the ground to keep grip and stop you from slipping. No one wants a pulled hamstring in the middle of a match that’ll knock you out of playing for a few months while it heals. 

We’ve found the Adidas Predator 20.4’s a perfect cleat for outdoor soccer, which works excellent on real and artificial turf. The low-cut collar around the ankle allows for freedom of movement while giving you support and stability.

And the flexible rubber sole, with studs, offers maximum traction and high-speed control.

It’s good to understand the difference between soccer and football cleats and the difference between softball and soccer cleats.

Accessories

There are still some vital bits you need alongside your kit to get you started with soccer. Most people find it helpful to have dedicated items for their sport, they get used a lot in, and you will chucking them about.

They’re not there to look pretty; they are there to get a job done. Even so, you want quality items that will stand up to a bit of brute force.

Goalkeeper Gloves

Gloves aren’t really a necessity for soccer; most players only use their feet. However, the goalkeepers wouldn’t dream of practicing without a pair.

You will get goal training when you’re beginning your journey into soccer. Everybody does because it’s an essential role during a match, and most teams have more than one player who can jump in as goalie. 

Now you could borrow a pair of gloves from your coach for training, but think about how many hot, sweaty hands have been inside those gloves. They smell terrible, and they make your hands smell for days after.

All you need is a decent set of beginner gloves like these Nike Match Goalkeeper Gloves. They have foam inside the palm for shock control and a smooth surface for good grip in wet and dry weather. 

Water Bottle

Soccer is a game with a lot of moving; if you weren’t much of a mover before you decided to start training, you would be now. One of the most critical factors to keeping your body performing to its full potential is hydration.

All athletes, whether amateur or professional, need to drink water throughout their training and matches.

Drinking water keeps those energy levels high, and as a result, allows you to keep giving a quality performance. You need a fancy water bottle, just one that does the job well. This BPA-free water bottle is perfect. It’s got a good capacity and is easy to use; pop open the spout and drink.

Soccer Ball

Every player knows, that a good sportsman doesn’t wait for coaching sessions to practice their game. Especially when you’re a beginner, you want to be practicing a few times a week at home or even arranging friendly matches with friends.

To do that, you must have a decent ball.

This Nike Premier League Strike Ball is a brilliant practice ball that the pros like to play with. It’s brilliant for everyday play with high contrast graphics and a 12-panel design for true and accurate flight. Choosing a suitable ball is essential; using a good ball will teach you to play well, a bad one will teach you some bad habits. 

Sports Bag

It is highly recommended that you buy a separate bag for your soccer gear. Your kit and equipment will get dirty and smelly, and you really don’t want it transferring over to other parts of your life. Imagine turning to work smelling like a locker room because you had to bring your uniform in the same bag you transported your soccer gear with.

A PUMA duffle bag is ideal as a soccer bag. It’s pretty roomy, big enough to carry a soccer ball, and it has a separate compartment for your cleats. No more peeling your soccer shirts off dried-up muddy boots. 

Training Equipment

Of course, your kit is essential for giving your body the correct support when training, but how do you intend to practice playing soccer at home with no equipment? Soccer’s an old game; there are hundreds of styles and techniques to work on, but to begin with, you’ll need to focus on the basics; some basic soccer equipment will get you on your way.

Soccer Net

Suppose you fancy upgrading your practice at home or on the local pitch. In that case, you may want to think about investing in a portable soccer goal. They are quick and easy to pop up; however, a few things to look out for when buying one.

A good goal will have sturdy corners, this is where all the strength is to keep the goal standing, and the frame should be made of steel with a weather-resistant coating to avoid rust.

Goals should also come with a net with smaller squares; this is purely for safety reasons; you can comfortably leave the net up in the garden without worrying about any children getting tangled up in it. This Amazon Basics Soccer Goal ticks all the right boxes, and it’s an affordable price.

Speed Ladders

Agility ladder drills for soccer were created to improve a player’s quickness, coordination, and balance. The exercises are effective in developing your movements which is helpful in the field.

As a result, your performance as a soccer player is greatly enhanced when you bring your skills into a match.

You’ll find out that speed training drills for football are pretty fun and challenging. Soccer players can perform ladder drills at a low intensity as warm-up exercises and still engage in the exercises at a high intensity for different fitness levels.

Agility ladders are nothing fancy, but you need a durable one; they get trampled a lot during training exercises. This Agility Ladder from Yes4All is an excellent piece of kit.

Cones

Out of all the equipment we talked about today, soccer cones are undoubtedly the most valuable. The humble cone is the foundation of soccer training, and you’ll find them indispensable when developing your skills as a soccer player.

You can incorporate them into warmups, use them to develop ball control, and practice passing and finishing skills. You’ll use them in training with your coaches every session and soon want to incorporate them into your weekly routines at home.

Take a look at this 20-pack of soccer cones from Gosport. They’re bright orange, so they stand out against the turf and are incredibly flexible, you can step on them or kick a ball onto them, and they’ll go right back to their original shape.

Waist trainer

Soccer waistbands are great solo hands-free trainers for beginners. They improve coordination, ball control, reaction skills, and ultimately, confidence. It’s designed to help you work on throw-ins, shooting, and passing. The setup is simple, slip the ball into the sleeve and strap the belt around your waist. Then kick away.

This Adjustable Waist Belt is perfect as it has an elastic cord that stretches to 18ft.