Best Soccer Cleats for Kids with Flat Feet – Supportive Outsole and Firm Heel Counter

Do you have a child with flat feet that is feeling overly tired after soccer practice or is experiencing foot and leg pain during the games? Did your medical professional recommend that your child wears supportive shoes but you are unsure about which soccer shoes are more supportive than others? If your child’s flat feet condition is limiting your child’s chances of playing the game, it’s time to find a solution. Let me show you a list of the best soccer cleats for kids with flat feet based on my many years of shoe fitting experience.

Unfortunately, the majority of children’s soccer cleats aren’t built for flat feet. Soccer cleats tend to not provide any support whatsoever, but certain ones provide better support than others. I want to clarify that the soccer cleats that I recommend are not going to correct your child’s flat feet, but they are going to allow your child to play without any pain or discomfort.

I have helped hundreds of children with flat feet find the perfect pair of shoes for their feet, and over the years I became familiar with the best soccer shoes for kids with flat feet. Depending on the degree of your child’s flat feet, you might have to consider fitting a pair of orthotics/insoles inside the shoes for extra support.

Pro Tip: If you’re pressed for time and want to jump directly to the selection of the best soccer cleats for kids with flat feet, you can click here.

Do Soccer Shoes Have Arch Support?

It can be challenging to find a pair of soccer cleats that provides good arch support as they often have a thin and flat outsole. This is how the outsole of most children’s soccer cleats looks like:

If you remove the original insoles of your child’s soccer cleats you will notice how they are very thin and don’t provide any support whatsoever.

When children are playing soccer they stress their feet and legs at a whole different level. The soccer cleats that you provide for your child must provide a firm heel counter for lateral support and a substantial outsole to reduce the impact on your kids’ feet and legs. Soccer cleats with firm heel counters also help prevent ankle injuries.

What Soccer Cleats are Good for Kids with Flat Feet?

1️⃣ Supportive Outsoles: I have fitted certain soccer cleats that provide more supportive outsoles than others, which helps attenuate the impact that your kids’ feet and legs take when they come in contact with the ground. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes:

Do you notice how the soccer cleat on the right has a much thicker and more supportive outsole compared to the soccer cleat on the left?

2️⃣ Firm Heel Counters: This is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support. The firmer the heel counter of the shoe is, the better support it provides. Take a look at the image below to better visualize where the heel counter of the shoe is located:

I know which kids’ soccer cleats provide these two features from having fitted them before. Before I show you a selection of the best soccer cleats for kids with flat feet I want to make sure that you know your child’s exact foot shape (length and width). I mention this because your child won’t get the full support and stability that the shoes have to offer if your child doesn’t wear the shoes in the correct size.

The Importance of Providing Your Child with the Correct Shoe Size

Shoes that are too large, too small, too narrow, or too wide can create foot issues and have a negative effect on your child’s walking gait. Your kids’ shoes must fit just right. If you are going to order your kids’ shoes online, you need to be 100% sure of your child’s foot size. I created a resource that helps parents figure out their children’s exact foot size from home.

Now that you know your child’s exact foot length and shape, let’s take a look at the best soccer cleats for kids with flat feet. Disclosure: Keep in mind that we may receive commissions when you click our links and make purchases.

Best Soccer Cleats for Kids with Flat Feet

Take a look at the description below the image of each shoe to check whether that specific style can fit your child’s foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide).

Make sure that your child’s soccer cleats are properly tied at all times so your child can get the full support and stability that the cleats have to offer. It’s especially important for children with flat feet to have their shoes properly tied at all times.

Reviews from Families Who Already Tried these Soccer Cleats!

Are Any Other Soccer Shoe Choices Available?

Let me know if you are looking for a pair of indoor soccer shoes or if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes for your child’s flat feet. You can ask your question in the comment section below or email me at:

[email protected] 

What Are the Best Sneakers for Kids with Flat Feet?

If you need a pair of everyday sneakers for your child’s flat feet I created another resource that you might find helpful:

Should You Provide Your Child with a Pair of Insoles/Orthotics?

If you remove your child’s soccer insoles you will notice how they are super thin, meaning that they don’t provide any support or shock absorption.

Depending on the degree of your child’s flat feet and how much pain he/she is in when playing soccer, you should consider fitting an insole inside the soccer cleats for extra support.

There is one specific soccer insole I have found to be really effective for children with flat feet. It provides the following features:

• Bio-Mechanical Shape: The insole provides biomechanical support under your kids’ feet. It comes with a built-in-arch that provides shock absorption to reduce the impact that your kids’ feet take when they are running or jumping.

• Heel Cup: This feature helps position the heel to naturally absorb impact. This is the part of the insole that provides ankle and heel support:

I describe this sports insole in more detail in a different resource I created.

The Final Fitting

While the correct type of soccer cleats will not make your children better soccer players, they will definitely help them improve their skills and move more easily around the field.

It doesn’t matter whether your child is into playing basketball, tennis, or soccer, footwork and balance are a key part of mastering any sport. Having flat feet can make your child’s balance more unstable and therefore more prone to fatigue and lack of power. 

Let me know in the comment section below if you have any questions or if you have found specific pair of soccer cleats that worked well for your child’s flat feet. I am sure that other families will benefit from reading about your experiences.