Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Soccer Gear I Wish I Had When My Kid First Joined a League
30
items Your kid just signed up for soccer and you're standing in the store staring at 400 options with zero clue what actually matters. I bought the wrong cleats twice, forgot shin guards on game day, and showed up to practice without water bottles more tim...
Sections
6
Cleats and Footwear That Survive Muddy Fields
Shin Guards and Protection That Kids Actually Wear
Practice Balls and Training Gear for the Backyard
Hydration and Snacks That Don't Melt in the Bag
Weather-Ready Layers for Early Morning Kickoff
The Soccer Bag and Extras You'll Be Glad You Packed
Cleats and Footwear That Survive Muddy Fields
My kid's first pair of cleats fell apart in three weeks because I grabbed the cheapest ones on the shelf. These actually hold up through rain, mud, and the weird thing kids do where they drag their toes constantly.
Grab these for the kid who plays three days a week and destroys everything. My son wore his first pair for a full season and they still looked decent. Way better than the bargain bin ones I started with.
Customer Reviews adidas Kids Soccer Goletto VIII Firm
Perfect if your kid is under 8 and you don't want to spend $60 on feet that grow every four months. These held up great for rec league and they come in colors kids actually want to wear.
Vizari USA Stealth Firm Ground Soccer Cleats for Kids
Switched to these after my daughter complained her old cleats pinched her arches. She stopped fussing about her feet and started actually focusing on the ball. Worth every penny for wider feet.
adidas COPA PURE II CLUB Flexible Ground Soccer Cleats
Toss a whole pack in the soccer bag and forget about it. Before I did this, we were scrambling for matching socks at 7am every Saturday. These stay up and don't bunch under shin guards.
Athletic Works Boys Cushioned No Show Socks
Use these if your kid complains about sore feet after practice. I slipped a pair into my son's cleats halfway through the season and he stopped limping to the car afterward. Wish I'd done it week one.
Dr. Scholl's Run Active Comfort Insoles,Women's
Shin Guards and Protection That Kids Actually Wear
Getting a 7-year-old to keep shin guards on is like negotiating a peace treaty. These are the ones my kids stopped ripping off mid-game.
Keep these in the car for the kid who forgets gear every single time. They're light enough that my daughter doesn't even notice them, which means she actually leaves them on for the full game.
Franklin Sports Soccer Shin Guards for Youth + Adults
Snag these if your kid says shin guards are “too bulky.” They slide right under the socks without that awkward lump. My son finally stopped pulling at them during warmups.
Vizari Malaga Soccer Shin Guards - PP Shell - Kids & Adults
For the slightly older kid who's starting to take harder hits. My 10-year-old took a direct kick to the shin last month and barely flinched. That alone sold me.
adidas Jr Tiro Match Shin Guards
Pair this with cleats if your kid rolls ankles on uneven fields. My daughter tweaked hers during a tournament and this got her through the rest of the day without sitting out.
Mueller Elastic Ankle Support, White, Medium
Try this before your kid takes an elbow to the face during a corner kick. Happened to mine in week four. Now it goes in the bag right next to the shin guards, no exceptions.
Shock Doctor, Gel Max Mouthguard, Adult, Black
Practice Balls and Training Gear for the Backyard
We burned through two cheap balls before I realized not all soccer balls are created equal. These are the ones that survived daily driveway abuse and actually helped my kids improve.
Get this for backyard practice when you don't want to ruin the nice ball. My kids kick it against the garage door daily and it still holds air after five months. That alone puts it ahead of three others I tried.
Franklin Sports Competition 100 Soccer Ball, Size 4
This is the one my son brings to every pickup game. It holds its shape way better than the generic ones, and the panels don't start peeling after two weeks of wet grass.
adidas MLS Club Soccer Ball, Samba Blue/Solar Green
Grab this if you're tired of chasing the ball into the neighbor's yard every 30 seconds. Straps to the ankle so kids can practice shooting alone. Saved me about 10,000 steps per afternoon.
SKLZ Star-Kick Adjustable Soccer Trainer, Up to 18 ft
Toss these in the trunk for park days. They fold flat, set up in seconds, and survived my kids literally sitting on them. Way better than the cones-as-goalposts method.
GoSports Team Tone 4 ft x 3 ft Portable Soccer Goals for Kids
Use these for dribbling drills in the yard. My daughter's coach recommended cone work and her footwork improved noticeably in about three weeks. They're bright enough that you won't lose them in the grass.
SKLZ, Mini Cones for Agility Training, 20 Pack
Hydration and Snacks That Don't Melt in the Bag
I once opened my kid's soccer bag to find a granola bar fused to a jersey. Now I pack smarter. These actually survive sitting in a hot car between games.
Ditch the squeeze bottles that leak all over the bag. This one has a bite valve that actually seals. My son throws it in his backpack sideways and nothing spills. Took me three leaky bottles to find this.
CamelBak, Kids Water Bottle, 14oz, Jungle Animals
Keep one of these on the sideline for halftime. The squeeze top means kids can drink without unscrewing anything, which matters when the ref gives them about 45 seconds.
Gatorade Squeeze Bottles (32oz / 3pk)
Drop one in water before a hot tournament day. Way less sugar than sports drinks and my kids actually like the taste. Saved us during a brutal August doubleheader last year.
Nuun Sport Electrolyte Tablets, Tri-Berry Flavor, 10 Count
Stash these in the bag for post-game hunger meltdowns. They don't crumble into dust like some bars, and they survive heat better than chocolate anything. My go-to for the car ride home.
CLIF Kid Zbar, Organic Granola Bar Variety Pack
Bring this instead of a full-size cooler that takes up the whole trunk. Fits four drinks and some snacks, sits right on the sideline. Small enough that the kids can carry it themselves.
Igloo Playmate Mini Cooler, 4qt, Holds 6 Cans, Black, Plastic
Weather-Ready Layers for Early Morning Kickoff
Nothing worse than a shivering kid at an 8am game in October. I learned fast that cotton hoodies are useless once they get sweaty, so now we layer smarter.
Swap out cotton tees for this before practice. My kid used to come home soaked and freezing because cotton holds sweat like a sponge. This dries so fast he can wear it to lunch after and not smell terrible.
Under Armour Mens Tech 2.0 Short Sleeve T-Shirt
Perfect for warming up before the game starts. They pull on over shorts and come off fast when the whistle blows. My daughter lives in these from September through March.
Athletic Works Boys Fleece Jogger Sweatpants
Keep this in the car permanently. I forgot a rain jacket exactly once and sat through a full game watching my kid play in a soaked cotton hoodie. Never again. Packs down small and actually keeps water out.
Columbia Boys Glennaker Rain Jacket
Use this as the post-game warmup layer. It's cheap enough that you won't cry when it gets grass stains, and it's warm enough for those chilly sideline waits between games.
Hanes Boys EcoSmart Fleece Pullover Hoodie, Sizes 4-18
Toss this in the glove box for November games. Ears get cold way before anything else, and a warm kid complains about 60% less. I keep two because one always disappears.
C9 By Champion Boy's Stripe Knit Beanie Hat One Size
The Soccer Bag and Extras You'll Be Glad You Packed
After a full year of forgetting things, losing things, and cramming gear into grocery bags, I finally put together a setup that keeps everything in one spot. Saturday mornings got a lot less chaotic.
Get a bag with separate compartments or you'll spend every Saturday morning digging through a pile of sweaty gear looking for one shin guard. This one has a shoe pocket that keeps dirty cleats away from clean jerseys.
adidas, Defender 4 Medium Duffel Bag, Unisex
Spray this on before you leave the house. I skipped sunscreen for one spring tournament and my kid looked like a lobster for a week. The spray version is faster than lotion when you're already running late.
Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Spray SPF 50
Bring this for summer games. Soak it, wring it, drape it around the neck at halftime. My kid went from red-faced and sluggish to actually finishing the second half strong.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Sport Cooling Towel
Keep a roll in the bag for minor aches. My daughter's coach showed us how to tape a sore knee and it got her through the last two games of the season. Not a fix-all, but a real help in a pinch.
RockTape Kinesiology Tape, 2" x 16.4' , 5 cm x 5 m
Stash one in the side pocket for when your kid needs to go somewhere right after a game. Grass stains on white jerseys are inevitable, but at least you can hit them before they set. Learned this one the expensive way.
Tide To Go Instant Laundry Stain Remover Pen and Spot