Kids & Sports · Starter kit
Your kid's first soccer practice is Saturday. Here's the whole kit.
Six things, sized for ages 6–8, that a coach actually expects on day one — with the one-line reason for each. Check off what you already own; grab the rest in a tap.
Already have something? Uncheck it — the kit total updates itself.
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Youth firm-ground cleats Size 12K–1Y
The one gear item a coach actually checks — sneakers slip on grass.
$27.99Buy our pick →Diadora Baby Kick FG Our pickSoftest break-in and a velcro strap little hands can manage alone. Best all-rounder.
$27.99View on AmazonNike Jr. Tiempo FGRoomier toe box — the pick if your kid has wide feet. Runs a half-size large.
$34.00View on Amazonadidas Goletto FGCheapest sturdy option. Laces, not velcro — fine once your kid can tie them.
$30.00View on AmazonUnder Armour MagneticoGrippiest sole for quick stops — the pick for an already-fast kid.
$32.00View on Amazon -
Slip-in shin guards w/ ankle sleeve
Sleeve style, no straps to fight with at 8am. Required to step on the field.
$12.99Buy on Amazon → -
Size-3 practice ball Ages 6–8
Size 3 is right until age 8 — don't grab a size 5, it's too big to control.
$16.95Buy on Amazon → -
Long soccer socks 2-pack
Tall enough to cover the shin guards. Buy two — one's always in the wash.
$10.99Buy our pick →adidas Rivalry OTC, 2-pack Our pickPoly blend — cheap, quick-dry, holds its shape wash after wash. Fine for most kids.
$10.99View on AmazonNike Academy crew, 2-packPoly with a bit more cushion underfoot. Slightly grippier so socks don't slide.
$12.00View on AmazonBombas merino wool blendWarmer for cold-morning practices and fewer blisters — costs more, worth it in fall.
$16.00View on Amazon -
Squeeze water bottle Kid-openable
Squeeze-top a 6-year-old can work alone, and it survives the gear bag.
$8.99Buy on Amazon → -
Drawstring ball bag Nice-to-have
Carries the ball, then holds the muddy cleats on the ride home.
$9.99Buy on Amazon →
How we picked this kit +
We started from the actual sign-up sheet three local rec leagues hand parents, then bought and field-tested the top-selling option in each category with a 7-year-old for a full season. We kept the pieces that survived the season and were simple enough for a kid to manage alone.
The rule for making the kit: a coach expects it on day one, or it removes a Saturday-morning headache. Everything else got cut.
~68% of first-year rec players show up to day one missing at least one required item, according to a 2025 US Youth Soccer parent survey. Source →
Sizing help (cleats & socks) +
- Cleats: buy your kid's normal shoe size, not a half-size up — cleats stretch and a loose cleat causes trips. Ages 6–8 usually land in 12K–1Y.
- Socks & shin guards: "Small" youth covers roughly ages 5–8. The guard should sit two fingers below the knee.
- Ball: size 3 for ages 8-and-under, size 4 for 9–11. Don't skip ahead.
What to skip (save your money) +
- Goalie gloves — rec teams rotate keepers; the league provides them if needed.
- A ball pump — the practice ball ships inflated; borrow the coach's for the season.
- Branded team jersey — the league hands these out at the first game, not practice.