SOCCER Cleat Types

The type of cleat you’ll use depends largely on the surface you’ll be playing on. Remember to check with your league about its surface type and any restrictions on cleats. There are five common types of cleat designs to choose from:

 

Firm Ground (FG) or Molded cleats 

  • Traditionally used in outdoor games on grass fields
  • Non-removable rubber, or hard plastic formed on the bottom of the shoe
  • Provide extra traction on firm, dry surfaces
  • Ideal for beginner and intermediate level players
  • Suited for play on almost all field types and in all weather conditions
  • Required by many youth programs for safety reasons

SOCCER Cleat Types 

 

Soft Ground (SG) or Replaceable cleats

  • Made for traction on wet, soggy fields, or on well-groomed, soft grass fields
  • Feature studs on the bottom that can be screwed on and off and be replaced easily
  • Cleats vary in length and are usually made of hard plastic or plastic with metal tips
  • Type and length of the studs can be changed depending on the weather and field conditions
  • Ideal for experienced level players

           SOCCER Cleat Types

 

Hard Ground (HG) or Artificial Ground (AG)

  • Designed for artificial or rock-hard surfaces like artificial turf or solid, sunbaked ground
  • Large number of short studs are usually evenly distributed across the entire outsole
  • Provide a good option on frozen fields and make a great backup pair for most players

            SOCCER Cleat Types 

Turf shoes

  • Contain various raised patterns on the bottom in place of studs
  • Designed for effectively used on harder outdoor surfaces and on artificial turf
  • Good for training, and as a backup shoe for hard surface play

             SOCCER Cleat Types

Indoor shoes

  • Designed for use on hard, glossy indoor soccer courts
  • Resemble low-cut, lightweight sneakers
  • Feature a flat, rubbery-type bottom for better traction on indoor courts and fields
  • Required by many indoor soccer facilities when playing on artificial turf, so the turf does not get torn up

           SOCCER Cleat Types 

 

Standard soccer shoes come with molded cleats, which are permanently attached, but you can also buy shoes with detachable cleats. Experienced players tend to prefer detachable cleats because it allows for a little more versatility like owning a second set of cleats for soft ground that you can switch out when it rains.

Choosing the right cleat for your playing surface ensures maximum traction and acceleration on the field.