[Have you ever looked at the bottom of your child's cleats?] A 5-minute weekend entryway check to prevent injuries

“Lately, my child seems to be running a bit heavily...”

“They’ve started complaining about shin pain again. Is it from overtraining?”

As a youth soccer dad-coach and veteran instructor who has seen many children, I often receive these earnest consultations from parents.

It is truly worrying when your child, who is practicing so hard, complains of pain.

I’m sure many moms and dads worry about whether they should let them rest or if their running form is bad.

But would you be surprised if I told you that the hint to those worries might not be in an X-ray room at a hospital, but lying right in your own entryway?

Today, I want to talk about something I’d like you to be a little more conscious of after weekend games and practices.

Cleats are the “witnesses” that see your child’s body most closely

How do you usually handle your child’s soccer cleats?

“I wash them when they get muddy,” or “I replace them when they get too small.”

I’m sure that’s about it. You’re busy every day, and that’s enough.

However, from the perspective of us coaches and trainers, cleats are not just tools.

They are “witnesses” that remember everything about how that child walks, how they run, and where they are placing undue strain on the pitch.

Just by looking at the bottom of the cleats—the wear pattern of the studs—you can read the habits of how that child uses their body with a high degree of accuracy.

This time, I’d like to talk about the “three wear patterns” that are especially common in the junior generation and the signs of injury that can be understood from them.

Pattern 1: The inner studs are worn down excessively

(The studs near the base of the big toe or on the inner side are worn down)

This is a sign that when running or standing, their weight is collapsing inward.

It has a complicated technical name, but in short, it is a state where too much weight is being placed on the inside.

Children with this habit...

・Pain on the inside of the shins (shin splints)

・Pain just below the kneecap (Osgood-Schlatter disease)

・Collapsed arches

These are the types of problems they become prone to.

Pattern 2: Only the outer studs are worn down

(The studs on the pinky toe side or the outer edge are worn down)

Contrary to the previous case, this is a state where weight is shifting too much to the outside.

While it may look like they are bracing themselves powerfully at first glance, they are often not using their ankle cushioning effectively.

Children with this habit need to be careful about:

・Easily twisting their ankles (prone to sprains)

・The outer sides of their thighs and shins always feeling tight and swollen

These are things to watch out for.

Pattern 3: Only the toe studs are worn down

(The very front studs used for sprinting are extremely worn down)

There is a high possibility that they are running in a state where their heels do not touch the ground properly, almost like they are constantly on their tiptoes.

This is often seen in children who have just started playing soccer or those who are anxious to try and increase their speed.

If they have this habit, their calf muscles never get a chance to rest.

As a result, it can lead to Achilles tendon pain or heel pain (such as Sever's disease).

Of course, these do not always fit perfectly into just one category. It is also common for the wear pattern to be completely different between the left and right feet.

The important thing is to notice, "Is my child's pair of cleats wearing down in a strange way?"

A 5-minute step you can take in the entryway tonight

Go ahead and line up your child's cleats (or their regular training shoes are fine, too) in the entryway tonight and turn them over.

There are only three things to look for.

Step 1: Compare the wear on the left and right

Line up the right and left shoes and see if there is a clear difference in the height of the studs between the two.

If there is a large difference, it means they are running for hours with an incredible amount of strain placed on only one foot.

Step 2: Check where the wear is greatest

Take a look and see if it falls into the 'inside, outside, or toe' categories mentioned earlier—a rough idea is fine.

Step 3: Don't be misled by 'they're still wearable' (this is the most important part)

This is truly easy to overlook.

Even if the studs are somewhat worn down, children will say things like, 'They don't have holes yet, so I can still wear them!' or 'These are my favorite cleats.'

However, running in cleats with uneven stud heights is like 'constantly sprinting with a pebble stuck in one of your shoe soles.'

No matter how intense the practice is on an uneven foundation, it puts an unreasonable strain on the body and increases the risk of injury.

I understand the feeling of 'what a waste' all too well, but it is much more of a waste for the child and the parent if they get injured, can no longer play the soccer they love, and end up having to go to the hospital. Thinking of it that way, making the bold decision to replace them is an important form of support that only a parent can provide.

Finally

Even without special knowledge or professional tools, you can protect your child's body just by looking at the bottom of their cleats once on the weekend.

If you notice, 'Oh, these are wearing down very unevenly,' then:

・Give their calves a more thorough massage than usual

・Try doing some post-bath stretches together

・Consider moving up the timing for the next replacement

With just that, you should be able to prevent future injuries before they happen.

It takes time to heal after an injury, but it is actually not that difficult for adults to notice things before an injury occurs.

The hint is always lined up in the entryway.

This weekend, when your child comes home covered in mud, try taking a peek at the soles of their cleats while you tell them, "You worked hard today."