What a child needs for football: kit, boots, shin pads
The first question almost every parent asks before the first session is: "What do we need to buy?" And the answer is almost always shorter than expected. Nothing special is needed for a trial session at all, and a full set is built up gradually. Let's go through it point by point: what is needed now, what comes later, and where cutting corners is a bad idea.
For the first session — the bare minimum
To come along and try it, three things are enough:
- Sportswear — a shirt and shorts, or a light tracksuit your child can run in comfortably.
- A change of shoes with non-slip soles — ordinary trainers will do.
- A bottle of water.
The ball and all equipment are provided by the academy, and no playing experience is required. Buying boots and shin pads before the first session makes little sense: first make sure your child enjoys it.
Footwear: the one decision that matters
This is the only item where a mistake genuinely gets in the way of playing. Footwear is chosen not for "football in general" but for the surface:
- Indoor courts — flat, non-slip soles.
- Artificial turf — multi-stud soles: many short studs that spread the load evenly.
- Natural grass — classic boots with fewer, longer studs.
If in doubt, ask the coach which surface your branch uses and buy for that. And one important rule: never buy footwear a size up. In oversized shoes the foot slides, the child loses the feel of the ball and gets blisters faster.
Shin pads and socks
Shin pads cover the shin, where most minor knocks happen. Size is chosen by height: the pad should run from the ankle to just below the knee and stay in place. Too big and it hampers running; too small and it does not protect.
Pads are held under the socks, so socks are bought together with them. Versions with retaining sleeves exist — children usually prefer those, because nothing slips mid-game.
What you can skip
Parents often over-buy so that everything looks "like the real thing":
- Expensive professional boots. Your child will outgrow them within a season, and at children's speeds they make no difference to an ordinary model.
- Your own training ball. Balls are provided by the academy. A ball at home is a great thing — but that is about the backyard, not about kit.
- Club kit at the start. It is for matches and tournaments; the coach will say when the time comes.
- Extra protective gear. Beyond shin pads, children's football requires nothing.
How to buy sensibly
A practical sequence looks like this: come to the free trial in ordinary sportswear → if your child enjoys it, buy footwear for the surface plus shin pads and socks → add kit and the rest along the way, once it is clear what is actually needed.
On buying room to grow: clothing can and should be slightly loose, footwear should not.
Where to try it
The first session is free and needs no preparation. Leave a request on the trial session page — we will call back within 15 minutes during working hours and match a group by age and level.
Sessions run at both branches: Khimki, 10B Kudryavtseva Street and Moscow, Capitolium shopping centre, 1B Pravoberezhnaya Street. Groups are formed by age, from the youngest children to teenagers of 13–16, and girls train on equal terms: football for girls. Prices and passes are on the "Prices" page.
FAQ
What should we bring to the first trial session?
Sportswear, a change of shoes with non-slip soles and a bottle of water. The ball and equipment are provided by the academy. Boots, shin pads and special kit are not needed for a trial — just come in something comfortable to move in.
Does my child need boots, and which ones?
For regular training, footwear is chosen by surface: flat soles for indoor courts, multi-stud soles for artificial turf, classic studs for natural grass. A safe first choice is indoor or multi-stud footwear; check your branch's surface with the coach.
Why shin pads if the child is still small?
Shin pads protect the shin from accidental knocks — the most common minor injury in football. They are worn for contact sessions and matches. Size is chosen by height: the pad should cover the shin from the ankle to just below the knee.
How much does it cost to kit a child out for football?
There is no exact figure — it depends on brand and shop. A practical approach: start with the minimum (kit, footwear, shin pads, socks) and only buy roomy where it does no harm — footwear should never be bought a size up.
Do we need the club kit?
Ordinary sportswear is enough for training. Club kit is for matches and tournaments — the coach will mention it separately once your child starts travelling to games.