Law 4 The Players' Equipment
One of the advantages of soccer is that there is little equipment needed to play the game. When I played street soccer in the Netherlands as a boy, all we needed was a ball. Trees became goal posts, lines didn't exists and cleats and shinguards were a luxury few of us had. As a consequence, many of us got some pretty bruised shins. Thank goodness I never broke a shin, perhaps due to the fact that in Holland boys played soccer informally almost from the time we could walk and would kick the ball properly, rather than stabbing at it. Of course we also knew quickly who would be a danger to the shin and who would not.
IT IS MANDATORY AT ALL LEVELS OF SOCCER that SHINGUARDS be worn at games AND practices. This is not something a coach nor parent has discretion over. Porfessional players are not allowed to play nor practice without shinguards, so why should non-professinal players do so?
As a coach you must stress to parents that players show up with shinguards. These must be the right size. Shinguards for a U6 player will not fit a U12 player. They must cover from two inches above the ankle to just below the knee cap. They must also be covered by stocking type socks at all times. It is just irresponsible and against rules to allow a player to practice without shin guards. At the higher divisions boys think it isn't "cool" to practice with them, and I have seen it. Don't allow it.
Cleated shoes are not mandatory. In fact when the ground is very hard, cleats may even hurt a young player trying to balance on them. If the ground is nice and soft, cleats will help and keep a player from slipping. Players may legally play the game without cleats. In baseball, where cleats are designed to dig into the ground, they work fine on the infield. In soccer, where baseball cleats are not allowed (baseball has the front cleats), nor metal is allowed, they won't dig into hard ground.
We all know how quickly children grow when little. One pair of cleated shoes for a year won't work. Either they are bought for them to "grow" into, meaning their feet are sloppily moving around the shoe, or the shoe becomes too small when not replaced and they pinch the feet.
Clubs are good to have parents donate old cleated shoes for others to use. Just be sure to buy disinfecting spray before recycling them.
Uniforms are mandatory for all games. That is so teams can be differentiated. Of course the term "uniform" can be T-shirts and shorts, shinguards, socks and shoes. Most soccer organizations either supply, or have parents pay for, nice uniforms. There is nothing wrong with that. Children are proud to wear their uniforms. Just be cognizant of parents who may not have the money to pay for uniforms and won't let their children play because of it.
Clubs should have a "slush" fund for these players and pay for their uniforms.
The Goalkeeper must wear a uniform that is clearly different in color from either team. Some coaches will purchase keeper shirts for that. Remember that in places where it gets very warm, a keeper needs to have a thin jersey and at the lower divisions (U10 and U12) a "target" jersey (tank top type) will do and is even acceptable at the higher divisions. They may want to put on elbow and knee pads, however.
Although nice, it is suggested that names NOT be put on uniforms in lower divisions. In the age of child predators, it is one small way to prevent them from knowing too much about a child. All jerseys must have a number.
In professional soccer there are two numbers that are special, and almost sacret: Numbers One and Ten.
The number ONE (1) is usually reserved for the best (or senior) goalkeeper. The number TEN (10) is usually reserved for the best striker, which is the player respected most in the front line to either score goals or able to set up situations to score goals.
Soccer balls are, of course, an important part of soccer (called football in the rest of the world) but not part of their equipment. Most younger children will have a soccer ball that their parents bought them. If they can afford it (they are relatively inexpensive to get), it is great. What usually happens is that players will come to practice, use their ball, throw it in Mom's car and not touch it again till the next practice.
As a coach, try to encourage them to practice dribbling and juggling at home, in their yard, between your practices.
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