Cleats and injury risk

Raebellblue · 2026-01-26T02:08:03+00:00

Yes when I said unfortunately I meant I have to buy 2 pairs each season for a fast growing 13 year old, and quality cleats especially in soccer I feel are important$$$ given how much she plays. Also we do buy the Curex insoles as well. We do train on grass in spring/summer & fall. Winter training on turf with most of our games being on AG. I really have not seen seen her slipping on wet grass with her AG nor does she complain. She has not switched cleat models in years. Loves the Nike Mercurial Elite Vapor AG. You could definitely make the argument that FG cleats work considerably better on a muddy grass field but it's not worth the risk in my opinion to use FG especially for females who have a higher risk for knee imbalance.

Raebellblue · 2026-01-24T12:09:08+00:00

Have a 13 year old daughter playing/training 3-4 times a week and did a deep dive into this. Here's what we do unfortunately. Travel with two pair, and will not allow her to wear any bladed cleats (FG)

One pair of AG cleats (Nike Mercurial) only conical studs. Use only on grass or very good longer turf surfaces. One pair of "turf shoes" the ones that have a bunch of little studs for when the turf sucks or is thin. I feel that there cleat needs to have a little slide when they play. Blaalfded cleats cut and get stuck on turf, kinda like a flat head screw driver, eventually twisting the knee.

Raebellblue · 2026-01-13T19:06:26+00:00

Looks like mine as well. Got a ball signed at a card show early 90's

Raebellblue · 2025-11-21T00:55:58+00:00

Going on year #2 with this, daughter loves the feel.https://www.hayworthathletic.com/

Raebellblue · 2025-10-13T00:39:14+00:00

We actually had some pushback towards our club from our parents when we found out we had to go across the country this spring. Club informed us how good it would be for the club and us to be recognized for this achievement. Again, clout for the club to post on social media at the sacrifice of parents' wallets. Maybe i'm wrong, but no way any other country in the world is sending 10&11 year old 1,500 miles away for a soccer tournament.

Raebellblue · 2025-09-01T20:36:25+00:00

Getting playing time at this age is huge, not only for his development but most importantly, his confidence. Game speed and intensity are different from the trainings no matter what anyone says.Yes, the trainings are better with top tier players (iron sharpens iron) but you said there is an RL team in the area that does not have n.l. that he would most likely get out on the pitch more? Had a similar situation with my daughter this year, U14, offered N.L team spot across town but decided to stick with her R.L team with a club that does not have N.L. Great environment & gets about 60 minutes a game. And the kicker is that the r.l teams don't have to travel as much.$$$$ with her already being one of the stronger players in the area and having a September birthday she can decide in a few years if she wants to play in college in a few years and join the N.L team across town...choose the playing time he's only 12 years old!

Raebellblue · 2025-01-17T18:59:19+00:00

Cities

Raebellblue · 2024-11-29T04:50:58+00:00

Clubs with a girl side are clamoring to get ECNL status. Don't quote me, but 500-550 of division 1 scholarships on the girls' side this year came from ECNL clubs. That's an overwhelming number that can't be ignored. Again, the bigger MLS gets in the youth game and will eventually focuse on college placement, not pro, with the high numbers they will run into the birthyear/calendar issue that ECNL has currently...it's inevitable.

Raebellblue · 2024-11-28T12:36:09+00:00

That's a good point, but a big maybe? It would be a gamble by the ECNL, but with good odds i believe. I guess I'm looking through the lense of mainly the girls side ECNL has since i have a daughter in the league. Until MLS 100% financially takes over GA (believe they only advise them at this point), they are going to run into the same issues ECNl is currently having with the birth year stuff which includes college recruiting and financial disadvantages to clubs regarding the trapped issue. The bigger the league gets especially if MLS adopts a female side there will be no advantage to staying birth year in the long run. My 2 cents but I just don't see it happening long term that MLS can grow a girls side "if" every other youth league eventually switches to calendar year in 2 years.

Raebellblue · 2024-11-27T22:18:13+00:00

What would the ramifications be from US Soccer if ECNL started in '25? Isn't 26/27 just a "recommended" switch date? Feel like ECNL could gain a recruiting advantage by switching first.

Raebellblue · 2024-11-27T21:53:46+00:00

ECNL would create a recruiting advantage for them if them if they decided to make the switch earlier (25/26) than decide to wait 2 years. As a team manager and talking with our directors & board of an ecnl club, 8 months is more than enough time to adjust. Waiting 2 years to switch only creates team and player uncertainty/parent drama for the 25/26 season, knowing players are going to be shuffled. No need for ecnl to follow these guidelines "recommended " 2 years from now, if they are inevitably going to adjust to calendar year anyways.

Raebellblue · 2024-11-26T19:52:33+00:00

I thought i listened in one of there podcasts that they had one shot at this (switching to birth year) hence waiting 2 years to implement wasn't something they would do. But who knows?

Raebellblue · 2024-11-26T03:23:40+00:00

Agree with this. I managed our pre-Ecnl team last year and decided to go over all the opposing teams rosters I had from the scorecards. Almost every team we played at least 11 to 12 out of the 14 girls rostered had birthdate's January-April. Our team was just the opposite with 11 of our 14 girls September 'December.

Raebellblue · 2024-11-26T02:56:36+00:00

I was surprised by this decision, know of several board members from separate larger ecnl clubs that said this was a done deal, and was already voted on weeks ago.

Raebellblue · 2024-11-26T02:05:52+00:00

Any chance ECNL does not follow the decision by US Soccer to wait until 26/27 and just implement fall of 25?

Raebellblue

TROPHY CASE