| Soccer is the world's most popular game for many | | | | most players. |
| reasons. Aside from the fun and competition it | | | | Detachable cleats are the preferred choice of |
| provides, soccer's appeal also stems from the fact | | | | advanced and highly skilled players. The cleats are |
| that only a single piece of equipment is needed in order | | | | studs on the bottom of the shoe and they can be |
| to play, and that is the soccer ball. However, if you | | | | unscrewed and removed quite easily. This allows the |
| want to be serious about the game, and you want to | | | | player to not only replace cleats that have become |
| maximize your potential as well as protect your | | | | worn over time, but more importantly, the player can |
| ever-important feet, then it is imperative that you invest | | | | tailor their shoes to perform best on different kinds of |
| in a pair of quality soccer cleats that will suit your skills | | | | playing surfaces and in different conditions. By |
| and abilities. | | | | changing the length and type of cleat they use, a |
| In fact, most youth soccer programs and organized | | | | player can use the same shoe to play on firm turf or |
| leagues require that appropriate soccer cleats be | | | | soft grass, dry and fast or wet and soggy. It is this |
| purchased before you will be allowed to compete. In | | | | versatility that makes detachable soccer cleats a |
| order to purchase the appropriate soccer cleats you | | | | must-have shoe for the serious player. |
| must make an assessment of both your needs and | | | | Rounding out the types in soccer footwear are indoor |
| means. There are really three variables in play when | | | | shoes and turf shoes, however, neither of these shoes |
| making a decision on soccer cleats: your skill level, the | | | | are truly cleats in the literal sense. Lacking the peg-like |
| surface on which you will be playing, and the amount | | | | cleats of the molded and detachable models, these |
| of money you are willing to spend. Those factors will | | | | soccer shoes are more like sneakers in appearance |
| help you narrow the field of choices, allowing you to | | | | and are designed for indoor surfaces, or outdoor |
| make a purchase that will suit your needs. | | | | Astroturf. |
| There are four basic types of soccer cleats: molded | | | | When you are ready to purchase your soccer cleats |
| cleats, detachable cleats, turf shoes, and indoor shoes. | | | | make sure to have your foot properly measured in |
| Molded cleats are the most basic and inexpensive kind | | | | order to give you the best possible fit. Remember that |
| of soccer shoe, so they are an ideal choice for | | | | the materials used to construct the boot portion of the |
| beginning and intermediately skilled players. Molded | | | | shoe are important and factors greatly into the price. |
| cleats get their name from the fact that the cleats | | | | Real leather is expensive and comfortable, but can be |
| themselves are part of the sole of the shoe, i.e. they | | | | easily damaged and becomes heavy when playing in |
| are molded as one piece. The actual cleat is built in a | | | | wet conditions. Synthetic leather is less expensive and |
| size and shape that will allow it to perform well on | | | | less durable, but it is the preferred material if you are |
| nearly any kind of outdoor playing surface. The cleats | | | | playing on wet fields. No matter what you choose the |
| cannot be removed, and when they wear out the | | | | important thing is that you are arming yourself with |
| entire shoe must be replaced. However, the low initial | | | | footwear that will allow you to enjoy your time playing |
| cost of molded cleats makes them easy to replace, | | | | soccer to the fullest. |
| and also makes them the ideal entry level shoe for | | | | |