Getting Started with Soccer

Soccer is an incredibly addictive game. High levels of energy and adrenaline, mixed with the rush of emotion associated with scoring a goal make this one of the best games to be a part of. However, many people after having decided they want to play the game get stuck on two things: Where to play and what they need to play. Both of these are easily solved, but potentially problematic; and because we would like to see everyone have the opportunity to experience life on a soccer pitch we’ve established a few guide lines you can utilize to get started.

Where to Play

Almost every city in the U.S. offers some sort of youth soccer league through which children from ages four to 17 can play on. This is obviously the best place to start if you or your child is interested in playing soccer. These youth soccer leagues are a great way for younger players to build a foundation of soccer skills and knowledge.

But what do you do when you get out of high school but didn’t want to play on the college team? One thing you can do is join an intramural team. This is a league established through your university designed for groups of people who just want to play soccer for the love of the game. However, these are usually student organized and do not serve as a good way to gain fundamental skills.

Now, despite popular belief, this is not the end of your options. If you are in the adult category but do not attend a school there is hope. These, unfortunately, tend to go unnoticed. There seems to be a misconception that if you did not start playing soccer as a youth, you’re too late. This is not so. Many adult leagues are built to accommodate first time players. Both youth and adult leagues will be organized through your city.

What You’ll Need

Truthfully, to play soccer all you need are two decent legs and a love for the game. However, it’s hard to play stopper in sandals, so we recommend outfitting yourself before heading to the pitch. The first thing you’ll want to purchase is a good pair of soccer shoes. There are three main types of soccer shoes: Firm Ground, Hard Ground and Indoor. Firm ground shoes are the type used for playing on a grassy field, these are the shoes you usually see when you’re at a sports store. Then there are hard ground shoes which are designed for Astroturf fields. Last are indoor shoes which, as the name indicates, are for indoor play. First establish on which time of field you’ll be playing and make the purchase.

Shin guards and socks are also a big part of the game. Shin guards are especially important because most leagues will not let you play without them. The main purpose of a shin guard is to protect your shins from oncoming balls, feet or legs. Although it may seem quaint and simple on TV, soccer is a contact sport, so make sure to protect those shins.

Next you’ll want a ball. There a few types of balls to choose from, all of which will serve the same purpose. We recommend going with a decent practice ball for your first ball seeing as you’ll just kick it against brick walls and around cones for the first few months.

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