Shin guards are required equipment under the Laws of the Game, so the only real question is which type you will keep wearing. Buy for coverage and a hard shell rather than a plush sleeve, and size by height rather than by age. Balls are simpler: the size is set by age group, not by taste, and the spec worth paying for above that is a thermally bonded case if you play in the wet.
Two rules cover most of this page. A guard that stops below the widest part of your shin is protecting the wrong bone, and a ball at the wrong pressure ruins both the ball and your first touch.
Shin guards are mandatory, and referees check
The Laws list shin guards as compulsory: covered entirely by the socks, made of a suitable material, offering reasonable protection. That last phrase is vague, which is why you see credit-card slivers of plastic at adult rec level. Referees can send a player off the field to fix it, and youth leagues are stricter than adult ones.
The injury this gear exists for is a tibia fracture or a deep contusion from a mistimed tackle. That impact does not care about your league's standard, and protection costs a fraction of what cleats do.
Various
Shin guards
Buy for shell coverage first: sleeve thickness is the part that matters least
Best for: Every player, every match, mandatory in almost every league
Coverage and a hard shell matter, thickness of the sleeve does not. A guard that stops below the widest part of the shin is protecting the wrong bone.
- Types
- Slip-in, ankle-guard or strapped
- Shell
- Hard plastic or carbon
- Coverage
- Should reach most of the shin
- Rule
- Required by the Laws of the Game
Strengths
- Cheap protection against the sport's most common fracture
- Slip-in styles disappear under socks
Trade-offs
- Slip-in guards migrate without a sleeve
- Ankle guards feel bulky to some players
Affiliate link. Specs come from manufacturer listings and were last checked on 2026-09-08. Confirm the current model and price on the product page before you buy.
The three types, and who each suits
Slip-in guards are a bare shell with thin backing, held by a sleeve or by the sock. Light, unobtrusive, and what most experienced outfield players use. The trade is migration: without something holding them, they end up sideways across your calf by the second half.
Ankle-guard shields add padded ankle wings and usually a stirrup under the foot. They protect the bony knobs either side of the ankle, which take a lot of accidental contact, and the stirrup stops the guard sliding. Defenders and younger players benefit most. Some players find the wings bulky inside a snug cleat, so try the combination before committing.
Strapped guards use one or two elastic straps around the calf. The traditional answer to migration, and it works, though the straps can dig in and the guard sits less flush than a sleeve holds it.
Coverage and shell, not padding
The protective work is done by a hard outer shell spreading a point impact across a wide area. Foam behind it manages what is left. A thick, soft guard with a flexible shell feels reassuring in the hand and performs worse under a stud, because the load never gets distributed.
Coverage is the other half. The tibia is widest near the top, just below the knee, and that upper section is where a raised cleat tends to land. A short guard finishing mid-shin leaves exactly the stretch you most want covered. Aim for one ending around two fingers below the kneecap.
Size by height, not shoe size or age. Manufacturers publish height bands for each size and they are broadly consistent, so measure the player and read the band. Between sizes, go up unless the larger guard fouls the ankle or knee when you crouch.
Keeping slip-in guards where you put them
Migration is the most common complaint in this category and it has three fixes. A compression sleeve with a pocket is cleanest: the guard cannot rotate and the sleeve keeps sweat off the foam. Sock tape or pre-wrap above and below the guard is the locker-room answer and costs almost nothing. Grip socks with an integrated sleeve do both jobs at once.
For youth players, skip the puzzle and buy an ankle-guard shield with a stirrup. Kids will not adjust tape at halftime, they get kicked in the ankles constantly, and a guard that stays put is a guard that protects. Recheck the height band every season.
Ball size is set by age group
This is a standard, not a preference. A size 5 ball is too heavy for an eight-year-old to strike properly and teaches a toe-poke instead of a clean laces contact.
| Size | Age group | Approximate circumference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Under 8 | Around 23 to 24 inches | Light enough for small feet to strike cleanly |
| 4 | 8 to 12 | Around 25 to 26 inches | The standard youth match ball |
| 5 | 13 and up | Around 27 to 28 inches | Adult and official match size |
| Futsal 4 | Indoor, all ages | Size 4 case, weighted | Low bounce, not a substitute for a size 4 |
Construction, and what a FIFA mark certifies
A stitched ball has sewn panels, leaving seams that hold water. A thermally bonded ball has them heat-fused into a near-seamless surface that absorbs far less. Dry, the difference is modest. In rain, a stitched ball gets heavier and less predictable through a match while a bonded one flies much the same at minute 90 as at minute 1.
The FIFA marks certify laboratory performance, not durability. FIFA Quality and the stricter FIFA Quality Pro cover weight, circumference, roundness, rebound consistency, water absorption and pressure retention. A marked ball behaves consistently. It says nothing about how long the outer survives a gravel lot.
Various
Match soccer ball
Worth it if your season is wet: thermal bonding is the spec doing the work
Best for: Matches and any training you want to carry into matches
Size is set by age group and is not a preference. Above that, a thermally bonded ball keeps its shape and water resistance far longer than a stitched training ball.
- Sizes
- 3 (under 8), 4 (8 to 12), 5 (13 and up)
- Construction
- Thermally bonded or stitched
- Standard
- Look for FIFA Quality or Quality Pro
Strengths
- Consistent flight and weight in wet conditions
- Holds pressure far better than cheap balls
Trade-offs
- Costs several times a training ball
- Wears fast on concrete and gravel
Affiliate link. Specs come from manufacturer listings and were last checked on 2026-09-08. Confirm the current model and price on the product page before you buy.
Training balls trade that consistency for a thicker, tougher outer and a lower price, which is right for the ball that lives in the trunk. Keep one match ball for games and finishing practice and let the training balls take the abuse.
Pressure is the free upgrade
Every ball prints its pressure range near the valve, typically somewhere around 8 to 12 psi depending on the model. An underinflated ball is slow, dead off the foot, and deforms on contact, which quietly teaches you to hit through it harder than a correct ball needs. It also wears the panels and seams faster because the case flexes where it should not.
Balls lose pressure slowly through the valve, so one that felt right last month probably is not now. A cheap pump with a gauge solves this permanently.
Futsal balls are a different object
A futsal ball is size 4 in circumference but weighted to bounce roughly a third as high. That is the point: on a hard court a normal ball ricochets away and the game becomes chaos, while a low-bounce ball stays on the floor and rewards close control. You cannot substitute one for the other. Playing indoors also means flat gum-rubber soles rather than studs, which the surface guide covers.
Various
Indoor court shoes (IN)
If you play futsal, the ball and the shoe both change: studs do not belong on a court
Best for: Futsal and indoor hard courts
Flat, non-marking gum rubber outsole and a low profile for close ball control. Nothing else belongs on an indoor court.
- Surface
- Indoor hard court
- Outsole
- Flat, non-marking gum
- Profile
- Low
- Use
- Futsal and indoor leagues
Strengths
- Grip and pivot on a sealed floor
- Non-marking, which most venues require
Trade-offs
- Useless outdoors
- Thin soles offer little cushioning
Affiliate link. Specs come from manufacturer listings and were last checked on 2026-09-08. Confirm the current model and price on the product page before you buy.
| Model | Types | Shell | Coverage | Rule | Sizes | Construction | Standard | Cuts | Latex | Cut fit | Surface | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shin guardsEvery player, every match, mandatory in almost every league | Slip-in, ankle-guard or strapped | Hard plastic or carbon | Should reach most of the shin | Required by the Laws of the Game | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Check price |
| Match soccer ballMatches and any training you want to carry into matches | - | - | - | - | 3 (under 8), 4 (8 to 12), 5 (13 and up) | Thermally bonded or stitched | Look for FIFA Quality or Quality Pro | - | - | - | - | Check price |
| Goalkeeper glovesKeepers at any level, matched to the surface you play on | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | Flat, roll finger, negative or hybrid | Soft match latex or harder training latex | Negative is snuggest | Harder latex for turf | Check price |
Links are affiliate links. Specs are from manufacturer listings, hedged where models vary by year.
Common mistakes
Buying the smallest legal guard. It passes the referee's check and covers the wrong part of the bone.
Judging a guard by how thick the padding feels. The shell spreads the impact; foam only cushions what is left.
Buying a size 5 for a nine-year-old to grow into. Heavy balls teach bad striking, and the habit outlasts the ball.
Questions people ask
Do goalkeepers have to wear shin guards?
Yes, with no exception in the Laws for the keeper. Most keepers use a light slip-in guard, since a full ankle shield interferes with diving and spreading. The rest of the position's kit is in the goalkeeper gloves guide.
Are carbon fiber shin guards worth it?
They are lighter for a given stiffness and thinner for a given coverage, which is the appeal for players who dislike bulk. They do not protect meaningfully better than a good plastic shell at the same coverage, so the upgrade buys comfort rather than safety.
Does an expensive ball make me better?
Not directly, but a consistent ball removes a variable. When flight and weight are predictable, a bad first touch is information about your technique rather than the equipment. That matters in finishing and passing drills far more than in a casual kickabout, which is the case for splitting match and training balls. The rest of the category sits in the training gear hub.