When it comes to playing soccer, what footwear you choose to wear can have a massive impact on your performance levels and safety. Traditionally you should wear specific soccer cleats with studs or blades in order to have the best chance of success on the soccer field.
There are other forms of the game though and these allow for alternative footwear choices to be made.
Today we will be asking the question: Can you use running shoes for soccer?
Why You Shouldn’t Wear Running Shoes For Soccer
As I mentioned in the introduction to this piece, for regular 11-a-side soccer (or any form of the game that is played on grass for that matter) you really should not wear running shoes. The main reason for this relates to safety.
Regular soccer cleats provide a base level of support for your whole foot and are made from special materials that prevent injury when heavy contact is made on the foot. Running shoes are often made from much lighter materials as they are designed to be lightweight and thin in order for a runner to go as fast as possible.
If you were to wear a pair of running shoes in a regular match, you are far more likely to pick up a serious injury when the challenges come flying in, you could also damage your running shoes beyond repair.
Secondly, you are less likely to be able to perform at the top of your game whilst wearing running shoes too. Soccer cleats are designed to have the optimum grip on the field, as the studs physically dig into the ground and provide a base for a player to kick and run from (this again prevents injury). In short, you’re more likely to fall over whilst wearing running shoes.
Finally, if the field is wet then you are going to have very moist and cold feet. The mesh that running shoes are made out of is not designed to be used in the rain and as such water can make its way through the material to your feet. This can cause discomfort and long-term damage to the skin on your feet.
Running Shoes For Street Soccer/Futsal
It may all sound like doom and gloom when it comes to using running shoes for soccer, however, there is a form of the game that they can be used for very well.
Street soccer is a basic form of sport that is played as the name suggests in the street. The game is very much skill based and has a relative lack of rules when compared to more serious types of matches.
The sport is very popular in places with very few grass fields, such as the favelas in Brazil. It is widely believed that playing this kind of soccer as children is what makes the Brazilian national team so good on the ball (Neymar is said to have been an excellent street soccer player in his youth).
The reason that running shoes can be used for street soccer is that the sport is not played on grass, which means that the issues relating to grip and safety are removed. Just remember to tie your shoelaces though, as nobody wants to fall face first in the middle of a street Soccer match.
Speed and skill are vital when it comes to street soccer, and this is where your running shoes could come into their own. The ability to beat a man and move up the court quickly will give you a massive advantage, especially if you are not as skillful as the players you are up against.
In my time playing street soccer I have found that those wearing running shoes often have a smaller ‘bag of tricks so to speak, however, they are amongst the fastest players on the court, and this makes them dangerous opponents if not marked properly.
If you want to give street soccer a try, then all you need is a ball and some friends to go out and play against. The rules are flexible, but if you play in a caged arena you are less likely to have to ask for your ball back and can test your skills in a confined space thus improving your overall game.
The Best To Buy For Street Soccer
In all honesty, there are no specific requirements when it comes to street soccer, you can wear almost any kind of running shoe that you have in the house. If you don’t own a pair of running shoes, I also wouldn’t recommend buying a pair if you are only going to use them for playing street soccer and not actually running.
If you are desperate to buy a pair though, there are some models that I personnel like to use for playing in the street due to their style more than anything else:
- Nike Air Pegasus Range
- Adidas Solar Glide Range
- PUMA Velocity Range
All of these trainers are within a relatively cheap price range and are affordable for those wanting to use them for street Soccer, it would be reckless to buy particularly expensive running shoes for this use.
Are There Any Other Ways I Can Use Them For Soccer?
Whilst playing the game is what most people will want to buy footwear for, we must remember that there are many other people involved in a soccer team and running shoes could be a good choice for them if not their players.
Coaches often choose to wear running shoes over Soccer cleats as they are more comfortable to wear on the side of the field for 90 minutes. They also suit a coach that may not want to get involved with the action on the field (managers rather than player-managers).
Officials could theoretically wear running shoes too, though it is not something I would advise for the same reasons that I would not tell a player to wear them. officials do just as much running on the grass as a player does (often more) and as such, they are also at risk of suffering a serious injury despite never touching the ball.
Finally, you can always wear running shoes to go and watch a match. This may sound obvious and to some extent it is, but you don’t need to wear Soccer cleats as a fan (as tempting as it may be to wear a full kit sometimes). You would likely be on the end of some banter if you were to wear cleats to a match.
Hopefully, this short guide has helped you make a decision whether or not to wear your running shoes for soccer. In short, the answer is yes you can wear running shoes for soccer, but not for a traditional 11-a-side match.
