Here on Long Island, the kids are gearing up for spring sports like soccer and baseball. For parents, that means long days in the stands or on the sidelines. But for kids, these sports can lead to major foot and heal pain—unless you take the proper precautions. Of course, we want our kids to stay healthy and active.
So how can they enjoy their favorite sports without hurting their feet? We have to give them a solid, supportive base. And that means ensuring that their cleats fit properly, by following this spring sports guide from Long Island podiatrists Dr. Mark Gasparini and Dr. Novneet Chhabra.
A Cleat Fitting Guide for Youth Spring Sports ![Kids playing soccer while wearing cleats]()
Kids who play soccer or baseball will likely need to wear cleats for spring sports. This shoe type is a great choice for sports played on grassy surfaces; they help prevent slips and falls (along with ankle sprains) by providing extra stability. However, cleats can also lead to foot pain for children.
You see, this shoe style is very rigid. As a result, they must be fitted perfectly to your child’s foot. Otherwise, they may develop foot pain or other complications.
Why? Well, when cleats are too big, your child’s foot will slide around inside them, bumping into the hard edges of stiff shoe style. In turn, he or she will be more likely to develop an ingrown toenail. On the other hand, if the shoes are too tight, the cleats could pinch their toes, causing cramps, discomfort and blisters.
When it Comes to Fitting Cleats, Age Also Matters
In addition to shoe size and arch height, you need to consider your child’s age when fitting them for cleats. Children under the age of 13 should have low-heeled cleats (half an inch or less.) That will improve their ankle stability and help avoid injuries. Moreover, they should wear styles with plenty of cleats clustered in the heels, providing added stability and helping reduce the risk for injuries to the growth plate. (And for Sever’s disease.)
For many children involved in competitive spring sports, this cleat distribution will not sufficiently protect their growing feet. And supporting children’s feet is one of the most effective ways to protect them from injuries. As a result, many young athletes can benefit from wearing a pair of custom orthotics inside their cleats. Not only will these medical devices reduce the risk for injury, they can also help enhance athletic performance by optimizing foot function during youth sports play.
How to Find the Right Fit for Youth Sports Cleats
Now, finding the right fit for your child’s cleats can be tricky. For starters, you can’t assume that your child’s cleat size and shoe size will match. Because this stiff style of shoe fits so differently, your child should be fitted separately before purchasing a new pair of cleats.
For that fitting to be accurate, you should:
- Shop in person, never online.
- Try on shoes at day’s end, when kids’ feet are at their largest due to natural swelling.
- Make sure that children’s feet are measured while standing. If one foot is larger than the other, fit the cleats to the larger foot to avoid injury.
- Try on cleats with the socks your child wears during spring sports games. This will ensure that cleats feel as good during athletic play as they do during the in-store fitting session.
- Look for wiggle room—there should be about half an inch of space between the edge of your child’s cleats and the start of his or her big toe.
- Check for problems before making a purchase. During the in-store cleats fitting, make sure that your child walks around in the shoes for several minutes. Before deciding to purchase the cleats, take them off your child’s foot and make sure they haven’t left red marks anywhere on the skin. This will help you avoid issues later on, in the middle of your spring sports season.
Now, once you find that perfect fit, we still need you to remember how quickly children’s feet grow. For that reason, you should check the fit of your child’s cleats before the start of every new sports season. But you don’t need to wait that long to worry about comfort. Because, if your young athlete complains about foot pain in the middle of the season, check their cleats for signs of damage. If the shoes are still in good condition, but your child’s feet hurt consistently, consider purchasing new cleats (at a new size) to protect their feet from injury.
Of course, spring sports can put lots of pressure on your child’s feet. So, even when cleats fit perfectly, injuries are possible. So if your child complains of foot or ankle pain during or after athletic play, get them off the field and into the office for an examination to rule out injury. Just call us at 516-804-9038 or follow this link to make an appointment.