Best Soccer Cleats for Kids with Flat Feet – Supportive Outsole and Firm Heel Counter
Is your child with flat feet feeling extra tired after soccer practice or experiencing foot and leg pain during games? If a medical professional recommended supportive soccer cleats but you’re unsure which ones offer the best support, you’re not alone. Most soccer cleats lack proper support, but there are a few styles that provide firm heel counters to support your child’s flat feet. Choosing the right cleats for kids with flat feet is essential for enhancing both comfort and performance, helping your child play their best without discomfort or injury.
What is the Heel Counter of Your Kids’ Shoes?
The heel counter is the back part of the soccer cleat, and the firmer it is, the better support your child will get from the shoes, ensuring greater stability and comfort during play.
A firm heel counter also helps hold the heel in place, preventing excessive movement that can lead to overpronation. This feature is crucial in providing stability and support throughout the game. I am going to help you find cleats with extra support to help stabilize your child’s feet and reduce the strain on the arch and tendons.
The Importance of Supporting Your Child’s Flat Feet
Flat feet can lead to overpronation, where the foot rolls inward excessively during movement. This can affect balance and agility, crucial elements in a fast-paced sport like soccer. Children with flat feet may also experience foot fatigue and discomfort if not wearing the right footwear, which can detract from their enjoyment of the game.
Do Soccer Cleats Provide Good Support?
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.
Are All Soccer Cleats Outsoles Flat?
Finding supportive soccer cleats can be tricky, as many feature thin, flat outsoles that offer little to no support.
What Soccer Cleats Are Good for Kids with Flat Feet?
1. Supportive Outsoles: A good pair of soccer cleats should offer ample cushioning to absorb impact and provide comfort during play. This is especially important for flat-footed children who may experience more pressure on their feet. The right amount of cushioning can help prevent fatigue and soreness
2. Extra Cushion and Support Below the Heels: The soccer cleats I recommend feature extra cushioning and padding, offering superior comfort and shock absorption to reduce heel strain and keep your child comfortable during play.
Why the Right Shoe Size Matters for Your Child
Getting the right shoe size is paramount, especially for children with flat feet. An ill-fitting shoe can exacerbate foot problems, leading to discomfort and potential long-term issues. Shoes that are too tight can cause blisters and restrict movement, while overly loose shoes can lead to instability and an increased risk of injury. I offer a virtual shoe fitting service to help you determine the correct shoe size for your child, ensuring the best fit and support.
As a shoe fitter, I’ve helped hundreds of children with flat feet find the perfect pair of shoes, and over the years, I became familiar with the most supportive soccer shoes for kids with flat feet. Depending on the severity of your child’s condition, adding orthotics or insoles for extra support may be necessary to ensure they get the comfort and stability they need during play.
Based on my experience and feedback from families, here are some of the best soccer cleats for kids with flat feet in 2025. Disclosure: We may earn commissions when you click our links and make purchases.
Best Soccer Cleats for Kids with Flat Feet for Foot Support
Check out the description below each shoe image to see if that style is the perfect fit for your child’s foot shape—whether narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide.
1. 442 V2 Academy by New Balance
These are some of the best soccer cleats for flat feet as the cleats have a reinforced heel counter to enhance stability and support, crucial for maintaining proper foot alignment.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style 442 V2 Academy by New Balance on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Comfortable lining to improve the first foot feet
- I suggest that you get this soccer shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
2. Goletto VIII by Adidas
These supportive soccer cleats for flat feet are offered at a reasonable price point and provide good cushion and padding around and below the heels.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Adidas shoe style Goletto VIII on Zappos or Amazon
- Fits children with medium or wide feet
- Cushioned heels
- I suggest that you get this soccer shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
3. Zephz
These are the best soccer cleats for wide flat feet as they are available in wide widths and offer superior cushioning to minimize impact, ensuring comfort even during intense play.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style by Zephz on Amazon
- Fits children with medium, wide, or extra wide feet
- Extra padding around the ankles
- I suggest that you get this soccer shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
4. Furon Dispatch by New Balance
These New Balance soccer cleats provide firm heel counters and are capable of fitting children with medium or wide feet. The shoe incorporates cushioned insoles to reduce heel pressure, providing relief during active play.
- Order the shoe style Furon Dispatch by New Balance on the New Balance website or Amazon
- Fits medium and wide feet
- Comfortable lining to improve the first foot feel
- I suggest that you get this soccer shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
5. Predator by Adidas
These Adidas soccer shoes for flat feet are durable, supportive, and provide a stable heel counter to support the foot, essential for maintaining alignment and reducing heel pain.
Key Features
- Order the shoe style Predator by Adidas on Amazon or Zappos
- Fits children with medium and wide feet
- Comfortable lining to improve the first foot feel
- I suggest that you get this soccer shoe a whole size larger than your child’s current foot size
Always ensure your child’s soccer cleats are properly tied for maximum support and stability, especially for kids with flat feet. In fact, using a specific lacing technique can boost the support and stability of their shoes even further.
Contact Me for Specific Shoe Recommendations
Every child’s foot is unique, and finding the perfect pair of soccer cleats requires personalized attention. Feel free to contact me for tailored shoe recommendations that match your child’s specific foot shape (narrow, medium, wide, extra wide) and needs. I can offer insights into the best brands and models that cater to different foot types, ensuring that your child receives the support they need.
Family Reviews of These Soccer Cleats!
Many families have shared positive feedback about these cleats, noting significant improvements in comfort and performance. Parents have observed reduced foot pain and increased enthusiasm for playing soccer among their children.
Bonus Resource: Sneakers for Kids with Flat Feet
Everyday sneakers with good arch support and cushioning can prevent foot fatigue and discomfort during daily activities. Investing in the right sneakers can improve your child’s foot posture, walking gait, and prevent foot or leg pain.
Should You Invest in a Pair of Sport Insoles?
If you remove your child’s soccer insoles, you’ll notice how thin they are—providing little to no support or shock absorption. Depending on the severity of your child’s flat feet and the pain they experience during soccer, adding a supportive insole can make a significant difference in comfort and performance.
If you think your child could benefit from wearing sport insoles inside their cleats, I’ve put together a comprehensive guide with my top recommendations. This guide will help you choose the best insoles to provide your child with the support and comfort they need on the field.
Conclusion: Investing in the Right Cleats
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.
My granddaughter has severe bunions and is supposed to have surgery but doesn’t want to give up her soccer season. What shoe would you recommend for her? She needs a good soccer cleat. She is a varsity player so she plays for long periods on a big field. Thanks so much for your help. We’ve tried pretty much everything we can think of.
Hello Marilyn,
What soccer cleat is your granddaughter wearing now? Do you know if your granddaughter has medium, wide, or extra wide feet?
Hello,
My son has a clubbed right foot and we are having a difficult time finding the right fit for him. Any suggestions on clubbed feet soccer cleats?
Thank you.
Hello Jen,
Yes, these is a specific cleat that is available in extra wide widths and might work for your son’s foot shape: Zephz
Which one is the best soccer cleat to help with pronation?
Hello Tessa,
It depends on your child’s foot shape, as to get the full benefits that the shoes have to offer, the shoes must fit the shape of the child’s feet correctly. Do you know if your child has narrow, medium, wide, or extra wide feet?
Hi…is there any particular soccer cleats for toe walkers
Hi Natalie,
As far as I know, there is no specific soccer cleat for toe walking children. With that said, it’s important that you don’t attempt to leave too much extra growing room in your kids’ soccer cleats as that makes it easier for children to get on their toes.
Is your child flat footed?