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Indoor soccer, as with any other sport, is a good activity for your child to join and enjoy early on. It will train him or her in discipline both physically and mentally. It could also develop an important life skill or turn into a passion.
They won’t know that, however, until they actually try it and possibly have a fair chance at becoming a great athlete. The best way you can support your child is to provide the necessary gear designed for success. This starts with something very vital to his or her performance: soccer shoes.
After reviewing different youth shoes for indoor soccer, it was tough to pick a favorite. In the end, I selected the Adidas Samba Classic Soccer Shoe as the top soccer indoor shoes for youth.
One of the main reasons is because they are built to last as your kid runs laps around the indoor field (and off the field as well, since they are stylish!).
Along with being a fashionable shoe, the Samba Classic Soccer Shoe from Adidas, they are durable and provide great traction on the field. This pair of shoes gets our vote for the best youth indoor soccer shoes.
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Reviews of the Top Indoor Soccer Shoes for Youth
Shopping for soccer shoes in general shouldn’t be taken lightly. They could make or break your child’s game and simultaneously, their competitive spirit. I have looked into what the markets say are the best indoor soccer shoes. I’ve also compared and contrasted shoes based on some basic factors you might want to take into consideration. These include weight, style, material, and construction, among other things.
Adidas Kids’ Samba Classic Indoor Soccer Shoes
Coming in second to the Adidas Stan Smiths, is the adidas Samba Classic Soccer Shoe. It’s the longest standing bestseller of the brand and has been around since the ’50s when it was first produced. This shoe has had a long history and lineup of different models, released throughout the years since. Now, the sneaker trend has further immortalized this shoe as a classic.
Celebrities have been spotted wearing this nostalgic design on and off screen, associating it well into pop culture. Different versions of it have graced the fashion world. Some of these are Samba 62, Samba 85, Samba JP, Samba NUA, Samba MTL, Samba 523, and Samba OT-Tech.
Before casual or sports wear, though, it served mainly athletes as an indoor soccer shoe. And, it still does to this day.
It’s a common adage that nothing beats a classic. In this sense, it’s so true, especially when your main purpose for it is to play soccer. Original pairs of this shoe were made to aid association soccer players as they trained on hard, icy surfaces.
Luckily, classic pairs crafted and designed after the originals are still in production. These are the subject of this review. This time, they’re for kids.
The Samba Classic carries with it the features that made it reliable as a soccer shoe. Included are the comfy EVA insole, the tan gum-rubber outsole which differentiates it from other shoes, and the three stripes design, of course.
The first two are for getting a good grip on your feet and keeping you firmly on the ground on every step, as these shoes have done for many years.
To counter the hardness of the gum-rubber outsole, the EVA insole has a defining arch. This supports your feet and positions them in a way that maximizes control and stability while playing, running, or simply walking.
They work better indoors. So, you know they’re good for beginners like children 4 to 12 years old. Their feet will fit into these shoes’ available sizes.
One of the most beneficial things about this shoe is its fashionability, which you won’t be able to say about other soccer shoes. You see sneakerheads get a pair just for its looks, even without any plan of using it for soccer.
Its synthetic leather upper goes well with casual outfits, either for boys or girls.Your child can go from class to training without carrying another heavy pair of shoes throughout the day.
Better yet, that’s only an added bonus from the leather’s texture. This ability to get a consistent attachment to the ball is important for a player when kicking the ball.
Apart from its heavy weight – 6.8 oz – and the simultaneous effect that it’s harder to break in, the Adidas Classic Samba is a more durable pair that suits beginners.
For your child who’s experimenting with activities and hobbies they could like, you might not want to invest in a pair of expensive pro-looking soccer cleats. At least, not yet. This is a safe choice. These could last years with a slower rate of wear and tear, but still be a usable pair outside the playing field.
Product Specs
- Textile, synthetic material
- Gum-rubber sole
- EVA insole / midsole
- Soft, leather upper
- Non-marking gum outsol
- Provides great traction
- Leather upper
- Suede toe cap
- Non Marketing gum rubber outsole for excellent grip on all indoor surfaces
Adidas Kids’ Ace Tango 18.3 Indoor Soccer Shoes
A little less casual, a little more sporty, the Adidas Kids’ Ace Tango 18.3 Indoor Soccer Shoes looks more like a soccer shoe than a casual sneaker. This is unlike the previous Adidas pair. If not the actual difference in external composition, the colorful design sets it apart as sports footwear.
However, for soccer shoes, the two colorways still show more fashionability than others in the market. The Ace Tango 18.3 is motivation itself for your child. They might not want to take these off.
However, what these shoes show on the outside is only a fraction of the benefits you’ll get from actually wearing them to soccer practice.
Some of the good notes about this shoe are its beautiful “sock-like design”, good grip both inside and outside, and its barefoot feel. Comfortable can’t be associated enough with these shoes. But, it best describes what they feel like when worn, as you’ll see in every review.
Whether just a coincidence or because they come from the same brand, the Ace Tango 18.3 has a lot of similarities to the Adidas Samba. Like the previous pair, the Ace Tango 18.3 is endorsed as an indoor shoe, thus it’s better utilized on solid ground.
It has other similar features with the first. These include the comfortable EVA insole, gripped gum-rubber outsole (though this one’s red in contrast to the other’s brown color), unisex design, synthetic material, and adequate arch support inside. The difference is, this one has a lot more to boast.
You might think a weight of 7.6 oz can’t be helpful because it’s obviously heavier than the Samba. But, even that has a stability purpose. Its heaviness contributes to a firmer step. This supports your child while running or with sudden change of directions – a useful feature for any position in the team. Huge thanks to the “Total Control” outsole for it!
This is largely due to the molding quality of the upper to your feet. This design makes you feel the connection of the ball more to your feet than just the shoe.
Despite its heavier weight, I can’t expect an absolutely perfect pair in any shoe. This one has a few cons you might want to take into consideration.
For one, it’s more expensive for less durable materials. The first shoes are made of gum-rubber and leather. This one is made of gum-rubber and synthetic textile.
Additionally, this only comes in little kid sizes, which fits children aged 4 to 8 years old. Nevertheless, the disadvantages of these shoes are trivial matters when it comes to the game itself.
With its less casual style, the Ace Tango 18.3 would probably interest more advanced kid players. Varsity players of their school team might be more inclined to wear these, than the beginner market of the Adidas Samba. This one infuses different kinds of technology to improve performance and really make a kid play better, even just in training.
Product Specs
- Synthetic Material
- Gum-rubber sole
- EVA insole / midsole
- Total control outsole
- Breathable upper materia
- Enhanced ball touch
- Shaft measures approximately low-top from arch
- Textile and Synthetic
- For kids
Diadora Kid’s Cattura ID Indoor Jr Soccer Shoes
While the Diadora Kid's Cattura ID Indoor Jr Soccer Shoes is one of the affordable shoes among the three, which doesn’t reflect lower quality at all. These soccer shoes are as comfortable and durable as they are stylish.
With sizes that run from toddlers to little kids to big kids, these shoes could follow your child’s growth as a soccer player throughout his or her growing years.
Growing pains won’t come from having the wrong shoe size while their feet continue to grow. The medium-wide fit adjusts flexibly enough to last as long as it can. If you think your kid outgrows shoes fast, you may consider getting a size bigger without worrying about the fit.
These soccer shoes guarantee a true-to-size fit even if your kid has high arches or narrow heels. In fact, these still provide enough room for shin guards that have a stretchy cuff around the ankles and feet.
The material composition of these shoes is almost the same as the first two pairs. First, the synthetic material prevents kids from suffering from calluses or blisters, letting them enjoy playing for long hours. Besides, synthetics are generally thinner, lighter, and more durable.
Meanwhile, the insole uses fixed cotton and shock-absorbing EVA foam. This model’s outsole features a non-marking, abrasion-resistant gum rubber that maintains grip and traction. These characteristics result in lateral support, which is essential if your kid is training to be the next top goalkeeper.
Furthermore, the upper part contains soft, polyurethane material with a padded, brushed nylon ankle collar lining. This means that the upper provides a great touch to the ball, allowing kids to make accurate catches and controlled kicks.
With the addition of multi-studded rubber, these are the perfect soccer shoes for natural grass, as well as on synthetic, artificial turf. You might as well consider this the universal shoes for kids no matter where they decide to play or train.
On the downside, you’ll need to replace the short shoe strings with longer ones if you prefer to tie double knots.
The shoes feel slightly stiff during the first few tries. The ease of breaking them in, however, makes up for the stiffness of the shoe.
Even with a few manageable drawbacks, these soccer shoes only weigh 7 oz, making them one of the most lightweight shoes on the market for kids. If your kid is an offensive player, the less weight will provide better maneuverability.
With the shoes’ bright colors, it will be hard to miss your kid in a field full of uniformed players. That, you can be sure you’re cheering for the right kid from the bleachers.
Overall, this only speaks of the balance between comfort and durability. If your child ever gets serious about playing, Diadora’s shoes are a no-brainer option.
Product Specs
- Synthetic material
- Fixed cotton insole
- Shock-absorbing EVA foam insole
- Anti-abrasion gum rubber outsole
- Soft PU tongue
- Nylon ankle collar lining
- Great-looking, comfortable Diadora Indoor shoes for kids.
- Upper: Soft, polyurethane upper with a padded, brushed nylon ankle collar lining.
- Insole: Fixed cotton and shock-absorbing EVA foam.
What To Consider for Kids’ Indoor Soccer Shoes
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Good material | Improved comfortability |
| Lightweight | Improved agility |
| Good grip | Improved mobility |
You can probably try to know everything about every soccer shoe available in the market. But, simply knowing the materials used, its weight, and characteristics still won’t mean a thing if you don’t know what features are important for your little player.
What’s comfortable differs from kid to kid, and it’s mostly determined by their feet and playing style. With that, I’ve categorized what you have to consider into two areas. These are shoe features and the game of youth soccer. More specifically, your child’s position and role in it.
Shoe Considerations
In general, shopping for any kind of shoes with an easygoing, come-what-may attitude will probably result in a regretful purchase. Knowing this, your child’s soccer shoes must be checked more meticulously. The following features offer a reliable guide.
Foot Type and Size
Your child’s usual size with regular shoes might not be the same for their soccer shoes. The latter requires a snug, tight fit for comfortability and better support. These shoes tend to be smaller and number sizes are different. At the same time, room for growth must also be considered.
Unless you want to start training your child from toddler age, a wide range of sizing options for little kids and big kids are important. Most shoes carry the same sizes for both girls and boys. As they go through puberty stage, boys might need larger sizes than girls.
Additionally, your child will start developing differently in their feet than their peers. Having wider feet will affect your pick because some shoes will cater to kids with this specific type of foot. Otherwise, the width of soccer shoes are proportioned accordingly with the length.
Material
Youth soccer shoes are usually made with either synthetic material or textile, almost never with leather. The first one is highly recommendable for youth players because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and doesn’t stretch as much as the other two.
Leather, though advantageous for its flexibility, can disintegrate fast from youth players’ growing feet. Synthetic materials are easier to break in, but retain their shape longer.
If the material has to do one thing, it should enable the player to “feel” the ball. Texture is important especially for the upper or the vamp. This is done with ridges or sculpted material for synthetics. Recently, woven fabrics have become popular among kids’ soccer shoes.
Weight
The hefty gum-rubber soles of indoor soccer shoes make them weightier than the ones meant for outdoor games. Since there are almost no external factors like weather to consider, the weight of indoor soccer shoes doesn’t have to be that crucial.
For just a youth player, however, lighter shoes might help them play better. Compared to adult models, the kids’ soccer shoes are one to two ounces lighter, which may increase speed and agility.
Durability
The strength and durability of the shoes may depend on a number of factors. Included are how often your child wears it, if it will be used for both training and games, and the materials’ usual wear and tear.
Synthetic materials are generally stronger than its leather and textile counterparts. Since it’s usually what’s used for youth soccer shoes, durability is not a question for most of your options.
The shoes’ lifespan will also depend on the setting where your child plays. It’s good to know beforehand what kinds of surfaces and storage methods are suitable with the indoor shoes, so you can prolong the life.
Grip
Not all players are gifted with the perfect balance and control of their bodies right from the start. Kids, especially, have the tendency to be clumsier than adults. Those two aspects are part of what they train for, so it’s important that grip is included in the strongest features of their shoes.
Your child will need it in the upper for the ball touch and in the soles for traction. The features to consider will be universal for the upper because soccer balls are rarely different in texture.
For the sole, however, you’ll want to pick the shoes that suit either of the two indoor soccer surfaces: artificial turf and polished court.
Flexibility
Naturally, a child doesn’t stop growing until later in their teenage years. Even then, there’s still a possibility to grow taller or get bigger. One of the fastest parts to grow is the feet. This changes the fit of soccer shoes.
Flexibility becomes a vital factor in deciding which shoes to get. Think about what material allows a little stretch, but not so much that it becomes too loose. As mentioned, synthetic and textile materials achieve this because they mold but not give in to your child’s fast-growing feet.
Sole
A lot of indoor soccer shoes are made with gum-rubber soles. But, as you’ve seen from my top picks, some are made flat while one features studs. The soles are made differently to suit different types of surfaces.
Your child’s initiation to indoor soccer may be through his or her school. It will be easy to distinguish what kind of surface they will play on based on what the school has. The flat soles work in polished courts.
Compared to the studded sole, it looks more casual. This one still makes it worth it, even if your child doesn’t end up playing the sport. If your child ever gets serious about it, though, studded soccer shoes are more versatile in that they provide more traction for artificial turf, solid ground, and natural grass surfaces.
Breathability
More often than not, heat generates faster in indoor settings than outdoors. In hot temperatures, natural grass tend to still be cooler than artificial turf. This might cause more discomfort from sweat in the feet and may risk slippage and injury.
Youth players are more at risk as they’re still in the beginning stages of training, and won’t be used to all the running and exhaustion from it.
Textiles, especially strategically-placed mesh, help in the aspect of breathability.
Comfort
The official dimensions of indoor fields are usually recommended to be “200 feet in length and 85 feet in width.”
Imagine this: you running around, catching and kicking a soccer ball in that whole area for about an hour and a half. You might not last even 5 minutes with uncomfortable shoes.
Though your child may be charged with more energy and adrenaline, there’s no escaping the pain from ill-fitting shoes. The most recommended fit for comfort is when there’s no extra space in the shoe for the feet to move around. It allows control, but more so it prevents blisters and promotes the overall comfort throughout the game.
Soccer Considerations
Even if you pick a pair of soccer shoes with complete features and qualities mentioned above, it can only be at least half as good if it’s not suitable to the way your child plays, his or her position or role in the game. These soccer considerations are just as important, if not more, in deciding which shoes to get.
What Position Do They Play?
Standard indoor soccer games have four kinds of players on the field. These are forward or strikers, midfielders, defenders, and goalkeeper. Depending on what your child’s position is, their shoes can enhance the best skills for their specific roles.
Defense players (goalkeeper and defenders) keep the opposing team from scoring. Their purpose is mostly to pass on the ball to teammates or push it towards the other team’s play area. Goalkeepers are the only players allowed to use their hands. The traction on the sole should be stronger for quick turns.
Midfielders are the ones who move the most on the field because they assist both the defense and offense players. For this, you’ll want to focus on the ability of the shoes to speed up the player and their durability to last many games.
As for offense players, especially strikers, a good grip on the upper and a lighter overall weight will help them maneuver the ball for accurate goals.
What Surface Do They Play On?
Two field surfaces of indoor soccer are turf and polished court grounds. You have to be open to what’s available in your area or your child’s school. Let’s not disregard natural grass surfaces or street grounds, if your child also plays with other neighborhood kids for fun.
Some soccer shoes have specialized features specific to the type of surface. Flat, gum-rubber soled shoes are more suitable to cement and court types of fields. This could be a basketball court. Cleats are able to penetrate more through the ground on natural grass.
Turf fields consists of a mat and blades of artificial grass that are sharper than normal grass. For this kind of surface, turf shoes are really recommended and sometimes required. They won’t damage the turf and will also give the appropriate grip needed for the less durable yet sharper surface.
Will There be Elements to Contend With?
It’s usually wet grass that players are concerned with when playing regular outdoor soccer. It’s not a problem with indoor soccer. The latter is usually unaffected by extreme weather conditions.
However, you still have to consider if the venue of the indoor game suddenly changes to outdoors or if your child’s team trains outdoors. Some soccer shoes might require extra care when used in damp surfaces.
Tips for Picking the Top Kid Shoes for Indoor Soccer
Once you’ve gone over all the factors to consider from the shoe and soccer perspectives, you’re almost ready to make a final decision. I just have extra tips for your child to check. After all, it’s not you who gets to wear the shoes.
Check the Laces
You’ve checked the upper, the inner and outer soles, the size, and all the other qualities you don’t see and everything’s good. But, it turns out, the laces are the first to give out. If not that, then they might be too easy to come off or come loose. This is a common scenario, especially for kids who are still learning how to do their shoelaces right and tight.
It’s usually overlooked because they don’t have any direct relation to performance. It might be just one little thing, but it could make the entire shoe unusable. You don’t want to miss it!
Get the Fit Right
I’ve tackled the size, comfortability, and breathability but not really what the right fit should be like. Soccer shoes must epitomize an exact fit. This means there should be no extra space inside the shoe on the top of the toes, on the heel, or the sides.
Any chance for the feet to move inside will risk slippage, blisters, or both.
Some youth players may be better than others but they have one thing in common. They’re all still beginners compared to adults players who’ve already trained a long time.
There’s a lot they can miss about forms and techniques. A good-fitting shoe might just save them from plenty of risks of injury.
Prioritize the Features for Your Kid’s Style of Play
Being tackled and encountering constant contact with other players are normal things in soccer, even indoor games. They might be overwhelming. The right soccer shoes will give your child the confidence to strategize, avoid, or take on the challenge of these inevitable events.
This will improve their play and make them a better athlete. Provide the extra support for your child by getting them the right soccer shoes that will enhance their skills rather than hinder them.
Related Questions
Here are some frequently asked questions about indoor soccer shoes.
What Shoes Do Professional Indoor Soccer Players Use?
Most professional indoor soccer players use shoe brands like Adidas, Nike, and Puma. For instance, the Adidas Mundial, and Nike Mercurial Vapor soccer shoes are very popular among elite athletes. These kinds of shoes have great traction and good designs.
What’s the Difference Between Futsal Shoes and Indoor Soccer Shoes?
The main difference between futsal and indoor shoes is that some of them have studs. While indoor soccer shoes can have studs, futsal shoes lack them, making them have less traction on turf surfaces. On top of that, futsal shoes have a stronger and more durable rubber outsole.
Is It Ok to Wear Indoor Soccer Shoes on Turf?
No, if they don’t have studs, the shoes will lack traction on the field. Therefore, if you were to use them, you won’t be able to move as fast and efficiently as before. This is because, when it comes to turf, you need shoes that have studs in order to sprint and move correctly.
Conclusion
Nothing will boost your little soccer player’s motivation and confidence in the game than having supportive parents in the bleachers. However, you can extend your support further by providing the right gear for them. The least that could happen is that your child gives a good performance and is not the reason for the team’s fall. At best, your child might be the MVP and the school’s star athlete.
