Spring is almost here and that means playing soccer the way it was meant to be played; outdoors on fresh cut grass with the sun beating down on you. I have nothing against playing indoors. I enjoy it also. But the playing field definitely adds a lot to the game and nothing beats playing on a well-groomed pitch.

It is important to pick the appropriate cleats for the field on which you’re playing. This is especially true when playing a competitive game where attention to the seemingly insignificant things set you above other players. It is funny how very small adjustments can have profound impacts.

When picking out cleats for a specific playing field, the most important thing to look out for is the type of outsole. This is the part that makes contact with the field.

Firm ground cleats are the most common and versatile. They are designed to provide traction when playing on natural surfaces (i.e. grass).

Soft ground cleats are good for wet, muddy pitches. They usually have metal-tipped and detachable studs.

Hard ground cleats are used for hard sun-baked grounds or frozen fields. They have many short studs distributed evenly across the bottom.

Turf cleats usually have rubber outsoles. The studs are also usually made of rubber.

Indoor cleats also have rubber outsoles. They have no studs and are made flat. They are well suited for playing futsal.

– Harry