Best Soccer Insoles for Kids with Heel Pain – Extra Cushion and Support

Do you have a child who is experiencing heel pain while playing soccer? Has your child complained of heel pain during soccer practices and also during the games? I strongly suggest being proactive when it comes to dealing with heel pain, as waiting for this condition to magically disappear might only lead to the condition getting worse. Let me show you the best soccer insoles for kids with heel pain.

If you are in a rush, you can go directly to the selection of the best soccer insoles for kids with heel pain.

What is Causing Your Child’s Heel Pain?

Most children’s heel pain is caused by the repeated minor trauma that occurs when they are performing high-impact activities, such as running and jumping. Soccer is a sport in which children put a lot of stress on their feet and legs. This repeated trauma can be significantly reduced by wearing the correct type of soccer cleats, but sometimes children need extra support, and that’s when a supportive insole comes into play.

Has Your Child Been Diagnosed with Sever’s Disease or Plantar Fasciitis?

One of the most common causes of heel pain in growing children and adolescents is Sever’s disease, which is also known as calcaneal apophysitis. Another common cause of heel pain is called Plantar fasciitis.

It’s important to understand the difference between these two. Children with plantar fasciitis generally experience most pain at the beginning of an activity and it goes away after 10-15 minutes while with Sever’s disease the pain tends to increase with activity.

Whichever of these two conditions your child has, they can be treated by wearing the correct types of shoes and orthotics. I strongly suggest that you consult your medical professional to make sure that your child’s heel pain is not caused by an underlying condition.

My Role Helping Kids Find the Right Soccer Insoles

Thanks to a decade of experience in the shoe fitting field, I have become well acquainted with the best soccer insoles for kids with heel pain. When I speak to parents at the shoe store I always emphasize the importance of being proactive and not waiting for their kids’ heel pain to “magically disappear”. Taking the “wait and see approach” might only lead to your child’s heel pain getting worse, and once heel pain becomes chronic it can very difficult to get rid of it.

Is Heel Pain Common in Soccer?

Children who play soccer are at a higher risk than children in many other sports for experiencing heel pain. Soccer is a sport in which children put a lot of stress on their feet and legs, and that repeated trauma caused by your children’s feet impacting the ground usually leads to heel pain.

Children are also especially vulnerable to heel pain due to wearing cleats that are thin and lacking in any protection and support.

What Makes the Insoles that I Recommend Effective for Heel Pain?

There are 2 different insoles that I recommend for children with heel pain:

1️⃣ The first one offers a deep and supportive heel cup with extra cushion and support right below the child’s heels. This feature helps position the child’s heels to naturally absorb and soften the impact from the ground.

2️⃣ The second insole also provides a deep heel cup for extra cushioning and support below your child’s heels:

This insole also provides cushioning gel pads in the heels and forefoot to offer extra support and cushioning that greatly increases the child’s comfort level and prevents the orthotic from slipping/moving inside the shoes.

Both of these insoles have worked really well for many children with heel pain. In some cases, the heel pain was significantly reduced, and in some others, it was completely eliminated.

Best Soccer Insoles for Kids with Heel Pain

Both of the sports insoles below are slim and/or low volume to fit in a low-profile tight-fitting soccer or football cleat. Disclosure: Some links in this post may be affiliate links and we may receive a small commission (at no extra cost to you) when you click our links and make purchases.

Another feature that I love about these insoles is that you will be able to switch them from your kids’ soccer cleats to their running shoes, dress shoes, and boots.

How to Fit Your Kids’ Soccer Insoles Inside Shoes

1️⃣ The first step is to remove the original insoles of your child’s soccer cleats before you place the new insoles inside of the shoes. It’s important that you don’t forget to remove the original insoles, otherwise, you will raise your kids’ feet and create discomfort.

2️⃣ The second step is to slide your hand inside your child’s soccer cleats and make sure that the insole is fitting correctly inside without any creases.

Try This Shoe Lacing Technique

Once you fit the new insole inside your child’s soccer cleats I strongly suggest that you apply the following shoe lacing technique. This specific shoe lacing technique will help keep the insole in place and secure your child’s heels, preventing heel slippage.

Are Your Child’s Soccer Cleats Supportive Enough?

Some soccer cleats provide extra cushion and support to targeted areas of the foot. It’s important that you make sure that your child’s soccer cleats are supportive and fit the shape of your child’s feet correctly, as wearing the wrong types of soccer cleats can cause heel pain.

Is Your Child Wearing the Correct Types of Soccer Cleats?

If your child is experiencing heel pain, supportive cleats are a must. In addition, the shoes and the insoles work together trying to reduce your child’s heel pain. It’s important that you provide your child with the correct types of soccer cleats if you want your child to get the full benefits that the insoles have to offer.

For example, some soccer cleats provide extra padding around the heels and ankles to maximize comfort. Take a look at the image below for better visualization purposes. Do you notice how the soccer cleat on the right has a lot more padding and cushioning around the heel area?

By the way, higher-priced cleats don’t automatically translate into better shoes for your child. If you want to see a selection of the best soccer cleats for kids with heel pain, you can do so in another article.

Kids with Heel Pain – Be Proactive!

Heel pain is a warning sign that your child might have a condition that deserves attention. Remember that active children who are involved in sports put too much stress on the growth plate and are more prone to develop heel pain.

Heel pain can make your child become sedentary and have an inactive lifestyle, which might lead to weight gain. 

It’s amazing what a difference the correct types of shoes and orthotics can make when it comes to treating heel pain, so be proactive and make sure that your child wears the correct types of shoes and orthotics.

Please do not hesitate to contact me through the comments section or via email for any other questions or if you are having a hard time finding a specific pair of shoes for your child’s heel pain.