Recommended Soccer Equipment 

FIFA governs soccer competition on youth and amateur levels worldwide by registering players and overseeing national soccer federations. In the United States about 20 million people play soccer. Almost every urban community has at least one amateur association, and many rural communities do as well. Local leagues are governed by their state’s soccer association. The 50 state associations fall under the control of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF), the governing body for all U.S. soccer. The USSF in turn falls under FIFA. 

FIFA laws recommend the following player equipment:

Soccer uniforms consist of jerseys, shorts, socks, shin guards and shoes with cleats (short knobs on the bottom of the shoe). Players wear cleated shoes for better traction while they are running. Cleats give them increased speed and maneuverability. Soccer rules require players to wear only one piece of protective equipment, shin guards. Shin guards are small shields worn on the front of the leg between the knee and top of the foot. They protect the lower leg against kicks. The jerseys must include a number on the back so that game officials (and fans) can identify players quickly. Goalkeepers must wear a color that distinguishes them from the rest of the players on the same team. This way, the referee can easily know which player is allowed to use the hands within the penalty area. Goalkeepers’ jerseys and shorts often have extra padding stitched into the arm and hip areas to protect them when they dive to make saves. Most goalkeepers also wear special gloves that help them grip the ball.