To play soccer you need cleats (or flat-soled shoes for indoor), shin guards, long socks that cover them, a size 5 ball and a team jersey with shorts. Goalkeepers add keeper gloves and a different-coloured jersey.
Need matching soccer jerseys for your team? We make custom soccer jerseys in Canada with no minimum order. Design work is free, names and numbers are included, and your team sees a mockup before you pay. Start your free design here.
Soccer Equipment Starter Kit
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1. Soccer Jerseys & Uniform
The Laws of the Game require matching team shirts and a goalkeeper in a different colour, so every league needs a full set. We make sublimated soccer jerseys and shorts, plus a keeper kit in a contrasting colour, with names and numbers included.
Check our soccer jersey size chart before you collect sizes.
New to the game? Read soccer positions explained.
Still need a team name? See our soccer team names.
2. Cleats or Indoor Shoes
Moulded cleats work on grass and most artificial turf. For indoor soccer and futsal, wear flat-soled indoor shoes, which grip the floor without studs.
- adidas Goletto VIII Firm Ground Cleats – a well-reviewed moulded cleat for grass and turf fields.
- adidas Mundial Goal Indoor Soccer Shoes – the classic flat-soled indoor shoe, with over 4,000 reviews.
3. Shin Guards
Shin guards are mandatory in every organised game. Slip-in guards with compression sleeves stay put better than strap-on ones.
- Northdeer Shin Guards with Sleeves – slim slip-in guards with compression sleeves, in youth and adult sizes.
4. Soccer Ball
Adults and players 12 and up use a size 5 ball. A durable training ball is better for practice than an expensive match ball, and a pump keeps it at the right pressure.
- adidas Tango Glider Soccer Ball – a durable size 5 training ball with thousands of reviews.
- SPORTBIT Ball Pump with Needles – a dual-action hand pump for the ball that is always half flat.
5. Goalkeeper Gloves
Keeper gloves have a latex palm that grips a wet ball. Most adult players wear size 9 or 10.
- Sportout Goalkeeper Gloves – latex-palm keeper gloves in youth and adult sizes, with over 6,000 reviews.
Soccer Equipment Checklist
- Team jersey and shorts
- Goalkeeper jersey
- Cleats or indoor shoes
- Shin guards
- Soccer socks
- Size 5 ball and pump
- Goalkeeper gloves
- Water bottle
FAQ
Are shin guards required in soccer?
Yes. The Laws of the Game list shin guards as compulsory equipment, and every organised league in Canada enforces it.
Can I wear soccer cleats on turf?
Moulded firm-ground cleats are fine on most artificial turf. Avoid metal studs, which are banned on turf and in most rec leagues.
Conclusion
Soccer is famously cheap to start. We recommend starting with a pair of moulded cleats, shin guards, a size 5 ball and a matching team jersey and shorts. Add indoor shoes when the season moves inside for the winter.
Ready to get your team matching? Tell us your colours and logo, and we'll send a free mockup of your custom soccer jerseys. No minimum order, made in Canada, and about 4 weeks to your door once approved. Start your design.
Playing more than one sport? See our equipment lists for every sport and team names for every sport.
