Children who are involved in soccer often suffer from heel pain. I always emphasize to parents how this is not something to stress over too much, as when children are playing sports they are stressing their feet and legs at a whole different level. With that said, I don’t recommend leaving your child’s heel pain untreated, as this can only lead to the condition getting worse. That is the reason why I put together a selection of the best soccer shoes for kids with 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. Thisrepeated traumacaused by your children’s feet impacting the ground can be significantlyreduced by wearing the correct type of soccer cleats.
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 isalso 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 after10-15 minutes while with Sever’s disease the pain tends toincrease with activity.
I always recommend parents to be proactive and don’t take the “wait and see approach” when it comes to treating their children’s foot conditions.
Pro Tip:If you’re pressed for time here is alistof the best soccer shoes for kids with heel pain.
Are More Expensive Shoes More Supportive?
Parents need to understand that a more expensive shoe doesn’t automatically translate to a better shoe.Even the most expensive soccer shoes on the market will not help treat or prevent your child’s heel pain, but proper fit and comfort will.
I usually suggest looking for soccer cleats that provide firm heel counters with extra cushion below and around the heels. The better the cushioning around your child’s heels, the higher the chances of eliminating your child’s heel pain. Also, the deeper the heel can sit inside the shoe, the more protected and supported your child’s heels will be. Let me show you the difference in padding between one of the soccer cleats I recommend a different style:
When children have Sever’s disease, they can either rest and recover, which means sitting out of sports, or find a way to help minimize or fully eliminate the pain.
One of the most effective ways to help treat and prevent heel pain is by wearing soccer cleats that provide targeted support to your child’s heels. In certain cases, I also recommend wearing a heel cup inside of the shoes, but it all starts with wearing the correct type of soccer cleats.
What Makes the Soccer Cleats I Recommend Effective for Heel Pain?
1️⃣ The soccer cleats I recommend provide a firm heel counter. The heel counter is the back part of the shoe that provides ankle and heel support, and the firmer it is, the better. Let me show you where the heel counter of the shoes is located:
Before you buy your kids’ shoes you should always press on the heel counter of the shoes and make sure it feels firm.
2️⃣ The soccer cleats I recommend also come with extra padding around the heels, which is going to cushion and protect your child’s heels. Let me show you an example of a soccer cleat that provides extra padding around the heels:
In addition to finding a soccer cleat that provides targeted support to your child’s heels, the cleats must fit the shape of your child’s feet perfectly. I have found that another common reason why children experience heel pain is from wearing soccer shoes that are too narrow.
Are You 100% Sure of Your Child’s Foot Shape? – Let’s Find Out!
Did you know that there is a large number of children who have wide or extra wide feet? Most soccer cleats are designed on the narrower side to fit the foot snuggly and give the player a better feel when kicking the ball, so it’s important to make sure that your child’s soccer cleats are wide enough.
To order the correct shoe size online, you need to be 100% sure of what your child’s foot size is to begin with. If you are unsure of your child’s foot size please refer to the following article.
Soccer is characterized by sprinting, stopping, cutting and pivoting maneuvers. This is the reason why shoe fit is essential and frictional resistance must be within an optimal range.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the best soccer shoes for kids with heel pain. 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.
Best Soccer Shoes for Kids with Heel Pain
In summary, the soccer cleats I recommend provide a firm heel counter, extra padding around the heels, and they can fit the shape of a child with medium, wide, or extra wide feet.
- New Balance shoe style Furon V6
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Lace-up closure for a secure fit
- Comfortable lining to improve the first foot feel
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style Tekela V4
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Synthetic laceless upper
- TPU outsole designed for use on firm ground surfaces
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style Zephz
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Padded collar to increase comfort and prevent blisters
- Lace-Up closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style 442 V2 Academy
- Available in medium and wide widths (fits high insteps)
- Micro-textured upper helps improve ball control at high speeds
- Lace-up closure for a secure fit
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style Zephz
- Available in wide and extra wide widths
- Extra padding around the ankles
- Lace-Up closure
- Order this shoe a half size larger than your child’s current foot size
- New Balance shoe style Tekela V4
- Available in medium and wide widths
- Synthetic laceless upper
- Lightweight TPU plate with TPU stud tips for an optimum performance on firm ground pitches
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Adidas shoe style Goletto VIII
- Not available in wide widths but fits naturally wide
- Cushioned heels
- Firm heel counters
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
- Adidas shoe style Goletto VIII
- Not available in wide widths but fits naturally wide
- Cushioned heels
- Firm heel counters
- Order this shoe a whole larger than your child’s current foot size
Once the shoes arrive, make sure that your child tries them on with the same pair of socks that he/she will wear at the soccer field.
What Is the Best Way to Tie Your Kids’ Soccer Cleats?
I also want you to apply a specific shoe lacing technique that is going to help secure, protect, and support your child’s heels:
If after trying the shoes I recommend your child still complains about heel pain during soccer games or soccer practice, then I suggest we try a pair of heel cups inside the shoes.
There is one specific heel cup thatoffers superior shock absorption, protects the heel, and prevents foot fatigue. In addition to being one of the most advanced shock absorbing heel cupsavailable today, itoffers relief from Sever’s Disease while protecting the heel from high impact.
Best Heel Cups for Kids with Heel Pain
Below you can find the best heel cup for kids with heel pain. Heel cups are a more effective and affordable solution to orthotics.Children can wear this heel cup inside their everyday sneakers as well.
- Ideal to treat and prevent general heel pain, plantar fasciitis, Sever’s disease, excessive pronation, Achilles tendonitis
- Innovative multi-cell, multi-layer waffle pattern design, helps to absorb impact pressure (shock) and return impact energy back to the feet
- The extra cushion this heel cup includes reduces and prevents sore heels and shin splints
Getting the Correct Heel Cup Size for Your Child – Get It Right!
Small Size– Fits from a little kidshoe size 10.5to a big kidshoe size 6.
Regular Size– Fits big kid shoe size 6and above.
Heel cups don’t fit in any type of shoes. The shoes need to provide extra depth to allow the heel cup to fit deeply inside the shoes. The good news is that the shoes I recommend all provide extra depth and are capable of fitting a heel cup.
Additional Tips – Stretch and Ice!
It’s important that youemphasize to your child the importance of stretching the calves and Achilles tendon.
Ice, ice and more ice. After play, make sure to have ice ready to help reduce any swelling.This will relieve some of the pain but not really help cure it.
Get in Touch With Us for a Personalized Suggestion
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you are having trouble finding a different pair of shoes to help treat your child’s heel pain:
fittingchildrensshoes@gmail.com
Let us know in the comment section below if you have found soccer cleats that have worked well in significantly reducing or fully eliminating your child’s heel pain.
