A Complete Guide to the Best Soccer Training Equipment (2024)
What is the best soccer training equipment that you need to improve? The beautiful game is one of the most simple sports, requiring little to no gear and equipment. All you really need to start playing the game is a soccer ball and your bare feet; you don’t even need cleats unless you want to participate in official matches and training sessions.
With that being said, if you are looking to improve as a soccer player, having reliable soccer training equipment can improve the quality of your training sessions and help you see results faster. There is a huge range of equipment out there and in this list I will go over the only equipment that is actually worth your money.
Make sure to read through the entire list as there may be some equipment you may not have thought about using before.
Soccer Balls
When it comes to soccer balls you want to make sure you are training with high quality balls that have the proper air pressure, so that they are not too flat or too hard. You also want to make sure that you have the right size soccer ball for your age and playing level.
Good quality soccer balls will last longer than cheaper ones, giving you more bang for your buck, and in the long run, you may save money by not having to buy balls too often. Also, the more soccer balls you have the more time you can spend on actually training instead of ball shagging such as during shooting and crossing drills.
If you play a lot of futsal or pickup games in concrete it is also important to have an indoor soccer ball, because regular soccer balls will bounce too much on hard surfaces. If you play a lot of beach soccer it is also important to have a beach soccer ball for an optimal playing experience.
Ball Pump
SPORTBIT Ball Pump
$11.99
Almost as important as the soccer ball itself is the ball pump. A ball pump is used to deflate and inflate soccer balls, and it is one of the most essential pieces of equipment.
There is nothing worse than getting to a field all ready to play only to find out that your ball has no air inside and you don’t have a ball pump. You may be able to pump a soccer ball without a ball bump, but that is not recommended unless you absolutely have to.
Soccer Cleats
Nike Tiempo Legend 9
$120
Having the right soccer cleats is very important to prevent injuries and to help you unlock peak performance. Ideally, you should play with the right studs based on what surface you are playing on, although some studs may work on multiple surfaces.
For example, you want to make sure you use firm ground (FG) soccer cleats on grass, turf shoes on artificial grass, and indoor shoes on hard surfaces. It is also important to consider wearing wide soccer cleats for proper foot care, since really tight shoes may cause problems long term.
For maximum comfort choose leather soccer cleats because they will mold to the shape of your foot. When it comes to soccer cleats, it is also important to know that they have a break-in period, which means it may take them a week or two to fit comfortably.
If you find your cleats still don’t feel how you would like them to after a week or two, you may be able to stretch or shrink your cleats to help them fit better.
Shin guards
Puma Ultra Flex
$24.63
Shin guards are the ultimate shield against accidental kicks, and they are like bodyguards for your shins. Made from rigid materials to absorb impact, shin guards are the most important soccer protection gear.
Shin guards come in various sizes and styles, so choosing a pair that fits properly and provides enough protection and comfort is essential. Everyone’s preference for shin guards differs, so it is best to experiment and see what works best for you.
For example, some players like smaller shin guards that are light and feel like they are not wearing any, while other players like bigger shin guards that provide more protection. Shin guard sleeves are also very important to help hold everything together.
Shin Guard Sleeves
Shin Guard Sleeves
$9.99
The shin guard sock, or sleeve, by HERSENT is one of the best shin guard sleeves. Designed with a breathable and elastic fabric, this shin guard sleeve will not only help hold your shin guards in the right place, but they will also feel comfortable and provide maximum security.
Soccer Cleat Insoles
If you are a soccer player looking for the highest quality soccer insoles, the VKTRY Premium Insoles are the ones for you. Made from the highest quality carbon fiber materials, these insoles offer premium support, stability, and shock absorption that is scientifically proven to help you run faster, jump higher and protect you from injury.
Regular Soccer Socks
Designed for both men and women, the Adidas Unisex Copa Cushion 4 socks offer a perfect blend of comfort, support, and durability. The moisture-wicking and sweat-wicking fabric keeps your feet dry during intense activity while the cushioning provides extra comfort making this a high quality pair of soccer socks.
Soccer Grip Socks
Lux Anti-Slip Socks
$17.95
Use code on Luxsports.com: Daniel70650 to get 15%-20% off your entire order
In soccer, socks are a very important piece of equipment and there are different types of socks, regular socks and grip socks. For example, many players like to cut their team socks, wear a special pair of grip socks under their team socks, and some may even use pre-cut socks.
Compared to most regular socks, grip socks provide extra traction, keep your feet dry due to moisture wicking fabrics, and prevent your feet from getting blisters by limiting how much they slide around inside the cleats. Check out this blog to find out how to wear your socks like a professional player.
Soccer Shorts
Adidas Men’s Mastigo Shorts
$19.05
Soccer shorts are an essential piece of equipment for any player hitting the field. While seemingly simple, these shorts play a crucial role in providing comfort and mobility during intense matches or training sessions. Make sure to get a pair of lightweight and breathable soccer shorts to allow you to move freely without feeling restricted.
Soccer Headband
Adidas Headband
$10.00
If you have long hair, or if you want extra protection for your head when doing headers, or if you are dealing with concussions then consider investing in a high quality soccer headband.
Soccer Bag
A soccer bag is one of the most useful pieces of equipment on this list that will make transporting the rest of your equipment essentials a lot easier. Look for a soccer bag big enough to fit all of your items and also consider investing in a bag with separate compartments for easy organization.
Depending on where you live you will also have to consider if you need a bag that can withstand various weather conditions. When it comes to soccer bags, it is very important to make sure to wash your bag regularly so it lasts longer and does not smell bad.
Soccer Ball Bag
BROTOU Sports Ball Bag
$14.99
The BROTOU Sports Ball Bag is crafted from durable 600D polyester and fine nylon mesh, designed to withstand heavy use while allowing airflow to keep contents fresh. With a large capacity of 24″ x 36″, it can hold multiple soccer balls as well as other types of equipment.
The adjustable shoulder strap and easy cord closure system make it easy to carry plus it has a zippered pocket that provides extra storage for accessories like jerseys and towels. This is no doubt, one of the best soccer ball bags for its price.
Training Cones
Training Cones
$15.02
Training cones are simple yet effective tools that can help set up drills for passing, dribbling, and agility, as well as help set up boundaries for scrimmages and small-sided games, which is the best way to use training cones. They also come in various sizes, colors, and shapes and can be used in various creative ways.
Full-sized soccer goal
Power net Soccer Goal 14ft X 7 ft
$199.99
A full-sized soccer goal is used for official matches and training sessions and is usually made of durable materials designed to withstand heavy use. If you don’t have access to a full-sized goal near you, then investing in a portable soccer goal, or a soccer goal for your backyard that is quick and easy to set up can be very beneficial for your development.
Scoring goals and taking shots at goal, are some of the most fundamental parts of the game that you must be training consistently, no matter what position you play, so it is a no brainer to invest in a full-sized soccer goal.
Pop-Up Soccer Goals + Precision Target
Almost as important as a full-sized goal, are Pop-up soccer goals. Pop-up goals are the perfect training equipment to help you set up many drills or small-sided games. Some pop-up goals come with precision targets on the other side, which is the type of pop-up soccer goal I recommend the most as it can be more versatile.
Create a grid with soccer cones, put a mini soccer goal at both ends of the field, and you are ready to play the beautiful game.
Agility Training Equipment
Agility Training Equipment
$39.99
Soccer is a game about physical and mental speed, and investing in quality agility training equipment can help you become faster and more agile. The best agility training equipment includes agility ladders and speed hurdles, which are simple yet effective tools for enhancing speed, coordination, and overall athleticism.
These tools are straightforward to use and set up and can easily fit in the backpack of any player. To get the most out of of these tools use them as a warm up to get your feet moving, but don’t waste too much time on them and definitely do not prioritize this over on-the-ball training
Rebound Nets and Boards
QUICKPLAY Pro Rebounder
$89.99
A soccer rebounder is an excellent training tool, especially when you have to do a solo training session. The rebounder, which can come as a rebound board or rebound net, acts as a training partner that will never get tired.
Many rebounders also come with different angles, which means the ball will come at you in different ways, depending on where you hit the ball, which can help keep the training engaging, challenging, and fun. For example, one part of the net may bounce the ball back on the ground while the other side sends the ball in the air.
Barefoot Shoes
Lightweight and flexible, barefoot shoes offer a unique playing experience, bringing players closer to the ground. Ideal for those seeking a natural feel, barefoot shoes are a great way to help improve the health and function of your feet, your most important tools in soccer.
Soccer Tennis Net
Soccer Tennis Net
$79.99
Soccer tennis, also known as football tennis or Futnet, is an excellent training drill that combines elements from both sports, soccer and tennis. Soccer tennis is a great way to improve a player’s technical skills, and it can help add some variation to a typical training session.
If you can find an empty tennis court and you are allowed to play there, then you can play Futnet without this piece of equipment, but if you do not have access to an actual tennis net or want to play Futnet on grass or sand, the soccer tennis net is a perfect investment.
Soccer Camera
Having a soccer camera is very important for recording your own games and learning from them. One of the best ways to improve as a soccer player is by analyzing your games by noting what things you do well and what things you can improve on.
By recording games you will also be able to create highlight videos to send out to potential future teams, which is crucial if you want to play in college or at the professional level.
Soccer Ping Pong Table (Teqball)
Teqball Table
$3,499
Soccer ping pong, or Teqball, its official name, is a sport that combines elements from soccer, ping pong, and volleyball. Teqball requires a unique table, the teqball table, which is curved and designed perfectly for this sport.
Although this is a sport of its own, many clubs worldwide have these tables for players to play around their training facilities, or they can be used during a training session because it also acts as a fantastic training drill.
PVS Mannequins
PVS Mannequins
$94 – 300
PVS mannequins are designed to look like human defenders and are very helpful in replicating real-game situations. Use them during free-kick training, dribbling, passing, drills, or anything else you can think of during a solo or team training session.
Training Bibs
Training Bibs
$15- 40
Training bibs are used to distinguish between two teams during a training session. They are very lightweight and can come in various colors, designs, and breathable materials. With bibs, coaches can create separate teams and carry out different drills and small sided games.
Massage Recovery Tool
Spiky Ball
$6.99
There are a lot of massage recovery tools on the market. However, the absolutely best massage tool that players can use is a spiky ball. Massage tools are used to help break up fascia adhesion, which restrict mobility, range of motion, and cause your muscles to feel “tight.”
A spiky ball will allow you to localize and centralize the pressure in one place which will break up fascia adhesion best. Foam rollers provide a larger surface area, which may feel better in some parts of the body, however you are not able to get as deep as you would with a spiky ball and they are not as effective when it comes to getting rid of fascia knots.
Soccer Tracker
CITYPLAY Smart Tracker
$149.99
There are many types of soccer trackers on the market from cleat straps, like the one above, to gps vest trackers that look like sports bras. A soccer tracker is not a must-have piece of equipment by any means, but if you have the money you are really into stats then they could be worth the investment.
However, it is very important to be aware of the potential dangers of wearing this type of technology as GPS trackers can emit Non-Native EMF, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation that may harm your mitochondrial function.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I learn more about the game?
To learn more about soccer the most important thing is to join a team and play the game as much as possible. If possible, analyze high level games as much as you can and your own games as well by recording them with a soccer camera. Also read soccer books, listen to podcasts and interviews, watch soccer documentaries, as well as some movies, tv shows, and anime.
What do you need to train for soccer?
As a soccer player your main focus should be to improve your soccer skills, athleticism, mindset, mitochondrial function, recovery, sleep, nutrition, hydration, supplementation, breathing and overall understanding of the game including the basic skills, positions, formations, and tactics.
What special equipment is mandatory for soccer?
The mandatory soccer equipment that you will need for official matches and training includes a soccer ball, cleats, shin guards, socks, shorts, and a jersey.
Conclusion
In this blog I have provided you with a list of the best soccer training equipment for all aspiring soccer players. Soccer is a very simple sport that does not require much equipment, however, investing in high quality training products can help improve the quality of your training sessions, especially for team training.
I hope this list has helped you figure out what the soccer training essentials are so that you can set a budget and invest in better training equipment today.
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