Wide Football Cleats for Boys – They DO EXIST!

Are you frustrated about not finding a single pair of youth football cleats that are comfortable for your child’s wide feet? Young athletes should wear football cleats that are functional and provide the support and protection they need. The right football cleats are crucial in ensuring comfort, enhancing performance, and preventing injuries on the field. I am going to show you a list of the best wide football cleats for boys and also help you determine what shoe size you should order online.

Understanding the Importance of Proper Fit

Regarding kids’ footwear, the right fit is crucial, especially for sports like football where movement and agility are key. A well-fitted cleat can prevent discomfort, blisters, and long-term foot issues. Wide football cleats for kids are designed to provide extra room, accommodating the natural shape of wider feet.

Supportive football cleats for boys.

At What Age Should Children Start Wearing Football Cleats?

There is no set age for children to start wearing football cleats. The coach is the person who will be able to tell you when the perfect time for your child to start wearing them is. It can be confusing for parents to decide which football cleats to choose from as there are several options out there but don’t worry, I will show you which football cleats will work better depending on the type of field your child will play.

Different playing surfaces demand different types of cleats. Firm ground cleats are suitable for natural grass fields, while artificial ground cleats are better for turf. The rubber bottom cleat is the one I recommend as it’s the best in terms of both playing surfaces.

Features to Consider in Wide Football Cleats for Kids

1️⃣ Rounder Toe-Boxes: This feature helps prevent your kids’ toes from rubbing against one another or the side of the shoes. Do you notice how much rounder the toe-box of the football cleat on the right is compared to the one on the left?

wide-football-cleats-for-kids

2️⃣ Extra depth: This helps accommodate the shape of your child’s wide feet and high instep. Take a look at the difference in depth between the football cleat I recommend and a different style:

wide-football-cleats-for-kids

Low, Mid, or High-Top Cleats for Children?

Football cleats come in three different heights to accommodate the varying needs of players by position:

  • Low-Cut: Low-cut shoes are more lightweight and allow young players to make quick cuts on the field. I don’t recommend low-cut football cleats because they provide less support and protection against ankle injuries.
  • Mid-Cut: Mid-cut shoes offer better support than low-cut ones while still allowing maneuverability. This style is the one I recommend the most as it’s a middle ground option that balances the others. The mid-cut fits the game of players in the following positions: defensive backs, running backs, wide receivers and quarterbacks.
  • High-Tops: High-top shoes extend up the ankle to provide extra protection and support, especially for lateral movements to reduce the risk of ankle sprains. Linemen can benefit from wearing high-tops as they spend a lot of their time moving from side to side during a game, which puts a lot of stress and strain on their ankles.

Football Cleats for Wide Feet

The football cleats I recommend won’t make your children better football players, but they will significantly boost their efficiency as they will definitely allow them to play at their best. 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.

Top Picks for Wide Youth Football Cleats

These shoes have everything your children need to perform comfortably when playing football. They are lightweight, flexible, have a firm heel counter (for lateral movement), and provide excellent traction. 

These football cleats come with a high back that sits high on your child’s ankle providing better ankle support and stability, which is great for protecting your kids’ feet and preventing rolled or twisted ankles. Make sure that your child tries the football cleats with the same socks that he will be wearing on the field.

1️⃣ Ankle Support

Ankle injuries are common in football, so cleats with good ankle support can be beneficial. High-top cleats offer more support, while low-top cleats provide more freedom of movement. Mid-top cleats strike a balance between the two. You should always press on the heel counter of the cleat to make sure that it feels firm and sturdy:

Soccer shoe with a firm heel counter for kids with heel pain.

2️⃣ Cushioning and Comfort

Adequate cushioning can prevent foot fatigue and enhance comfort during long periods of play. Look for cleats with cushioned insoles and padded collars to ensure a comfortable fit. It’s also important to break in new cleats before the first game to avoid blisters and discomfort.

New Balance kids baseball cleats with extra cushion and padding around the heels.

Boys Red Football Cleats

Red seems to be the favorite color among youth football players. This might be because red is a bright, eye-catching color that stands out on the field, making it easier for teammates and coaches to spot them. Many kids are drawn to bold colors as they express individuality and confidence. There is one specific red football cleat by Adidas that can accommodate wide feet.

Get a Personalized Recommendation

Let me know if you rather receive specific football cleat recommendations based on your child’s unique foot shape. Whether your child wants the cleats to be made of a specific color such as red or has a specific style in mind, I can help you find them:

fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com

I can also recommend big kids’ football cleats as I know some children might already be on the verge of wearing adult shoe sizes.

How to Order the Correct Shoe Size Online

Ill-fitting cleats can lead to a range of problems, from minor discomfort to serious foot conditions. Tight shoes can cause blisters, ingrown toenails, and even bunions. On the other hand, cleats that are too loose can lead to instability and increase the risk of injury. For children with wide feet, choosing the right width is as important as choosing the right length. Since most shoe stores are closed now I came up with a virtual shoe fitting system that helps parents determine their child’s exact shoe size from home.

Comfort is key! Have your child test the shoes and make sure that they feel comfortable. The cleats will soften up with time but they should be comfortable from the first time your child tries them on.

The Importance of Wearing Actual Cleats

If you ask a coach of any sport such as soccer, baseball, or football, they will give you the two most important reasons why children must wear cleats when playing sports instead of their regular sneakers:

1️⃣ It’s extremely hard to learn good form in sneakers.

2️⃣ Sneakers will be extremely slippery on grass, especially when the grass is dewy or wet.

Some parents are skeptical of providing their children with cleats since they are afraid that they might be more prone to hurting themselves. I have spoken with several football coaches, and they all agree that children who don’t wear cleats tend to slip and fall when the grass is wet which puts them at risk of injuries, being stepped on or just getting hurt from the fall itself.

They all emphasized how they have seen children get hurt from not wearing cleats, but have yet to see one injured due to wearing them. That’s why it’s so important to wear a pair of cleats that fits and also that provides good traction.

Comfortable football cleats for kids.

Can Kids Wear Soccer or Baseball Cleats for Football? 

Children can wear their baseball cleats for football, but not their soccer cleats. However, I always recommend parents to get their kids a sport specific shoe for whichever sport they will be playing.

Just to be clear, here are the characteristics that football cleats have:

1️⃣ They have a toe stud.

2️⃣ They have thicker outsoles.

3️⃣ They have two studs at the back of the heel and five under the toe and ball of the foot.

4️⃣ They come in three different cuts: low, mid, and high.

Football Socks for Kids – Extra Cushion and Padding

The football socks I recommend are made of breathable materials, dry-quick, and also provide extra cushion below the toes and the ankle to prevent blisters. They also provide targeted cushioning on the footbed for shock absorption and it will reduce the friction between the foot and the cleat.

While soccer cleats are the most versatile type as children can wear them for multiple types of sports such as football, baseball, and lacrosse, they won’t protect your child’s feet effectively against injuries as football cleats. The “growth plates” in boys’ bones don’t finish closing until they reach the ages of 15 to 17. When these “growth plates” are stressed during a particular activity or sport, they become more susceptible to injury. The correct type of football cleats will protect your child’s feet and help prevent injuries.