If any of the info below prompts you to make a purchase, check our soccer stores link for a list of local and on-line suppliers.
Backpack:
What should be in your backpack? First, what should be on your backpack?
How to ID:
You should customize your daughter’s backpack with a luggage tag, colored wrist strap, ribbon, small stuffed animal, etc. You may also choose to have your daughter’s backpack embroidered with her name or initials and uniform number. This will help minimize lost & found situations.
What to store:
- Soccer ball (we use a size 3 ball for the Junior Academy, and a size 4 ball for U9 through U12 Academy ages)
- Water
- Shin guards
- Practice vest (applies for team-provided vests from Fall 2020 through the present time during COVID-19 precautions)
- replacement vest (if your daughter lost her team-provided vest). Order hi-vis (neon) pink in size YL.
- Warm-up jacket / pants
- Extra hair accessories such as headbands or scrunchies (pre-wrap makes a quick and easy headband)
- An extra pair of shoelaces
- Slides, sandals or flip flops
- Sunscreen (in a zip-lock bag to prevent leakage messes)
- First-aid supplies: band-aids, Neosporin, tape or pre-wrap
- Towel
- A small roll of TP in a zip-lock bag
- A large garbage can liner to cover the backpack in bad weather
Another tip is to attach a carabiner to the handle. If the ground is wet (or ants are nearby), a player can clip her bag to a nearby fence. If you have other tips, please feel free to share them.
Game days:
Girls should pack their alternate colored uniform shirt, shorts and socks in a large zip-lock bag. If they were provided a practice vest during the COVID-19 pandemic, they should also bring the vest to every game.
Balls:
- See soccer balls link
Shin guards:
Players are required to wear shin guards during practices and games.
Shoes:
- Basic info about soccer shoes
- Detailed info about soccer shoes
- The difference between turf shoes and artificial grass shoes
Shoe laces:
Keep your shoes tied! If your daughter has trouble keeping her shoes tied, consider one of these products: Caterpy laces (https://caterpy.us) or Lock Laces (www.locklaces.com) They are available in lots of colors, are easy to use, and they work! (Coaches give the Caterpy laces a higher grade than Lock Laces.) They are available on-line direct or via Amazon. Running stores may also carry them.
- Caterpy laces tips: They were originally “one size fits all,” but may have expanded into small, standard and XL sizes. We recommend ordering the standard size. (You can trim them if needed.)
Uniforms:
- See uniforms link
Water bottle:
Girls should bring an insulated water jug to every session (minimum half-gallon, labeled with her name or initials and uniform number), filled with ice water or Gatorade and ice. During warm weather, the insulation factor makes a huge difference. It keeps the drink cold, so your daughter will want to drink it. If she brings water or Gatorade in an un-insulated bottle and the drink gets hot, your daughter won’t drink it. Her performance will suffer, and she’ll increase the risk of heat injury. Link: more hydration tips
Backyard training devices:
We think a rebound device is the best piece of backyard training equipment. First, it can act as a partner: one player can stay busy and productive with the rebounder. Second, it offers instant feedback: if a player strikes a good pass into a rebounder, the rebounder will return a good pass. If a player sends a weak (“soggy”) pass to the rebounder, the rebounder will return a weak pass.
Link: several different models of rebound nets and other kickback devices