It is highly recommended that parents bring their children in the right clothing as this will increase their enjoyment of playing the game, not make them feel alienated, and help them feel a part of their team quicker.
If you are joining a club that provides a team kit then it makes sense to wear that UNLESS they have explicitly stated that the kit provided is only for playing matches.
At Striker Academy a free Official Training kit is provided to all members and it is a requirement that children wear these to training at all times.
Here are some tips on what to wear for different weather conditions.
Sunny / Hot Weather
On the occassional sunny days here in the UK I recommend that children wear a T-Shirt, shorts, bring a sun hat / cap, wear suncream on arms, legs, neck and face. Always bring a hoody / jumper and rain jacket as the weather can be unpredictable.
Warm to Cool Weather
Hoody / jumper, T-Shirt, jogging bottoms, shorts underneath your jogging bottoms (in case your child gets too hot), rain jacket in case of rain.
Light to Heavy Rain
In heavy rain training is usually cancelled unless an indoor venue is provided. We do train in light rain. If it’s light rain then a rain jacket, hoody / jumper, jogging bottoms, T-Shirt under hoody.
Shin Pad Tips
Always get your child to wear their shin pads to training. They can be uncomfortable but this should outweigh the possibility of injury if they don’t wear them.
A good way to make shin pads more comfortable is to wear a thin pair of undersocks first, then put the shin pads on then put your football socks over them.
There are also special socks available that have a pocket that you slot your shin pad into. These are a good all-in-one alternative to wearing double socks. Thesae are called shin socks or shinguard socks.
Another alternative is to cut an old pair of football socks at the ankle and use these as an under sock beneath your shin pads. A good way to recycle football socks with holes in the toes or heels!
