Getting the Best Sports Footwear for Your Child
Updated: Jul 30, 2020
While it isn’t spring yet, it’s around the corner. That means it’s time for young athletes to begin preparing for their spring sports. Baseball, track and field, softball, tennis, and more all swing into season in spring. Whether your child is at the backyard pick-up game, little-league, or varsity level, his or her shoes are incredibly important. Making sure your child has sports footwear that fits his or her activities helps your child not only play better but avoid injuries.
Shoes support the lower limbs and help them deal with hard impacts from striking the ground. This is even more important in sports, where shoes accommodate a wide variety of additional stressors, like kicking, jumping, running, sharp side-to-side motions, sudden starts and stops, and more. Sports footwear is designed to handle the added stress of specific activities, helping your children play better and avoid foot strain.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure your child’s footwear is sports-ready before spring comes. Here are a few things to check for your child:
Does my child own athletic shoes? – Sports footwear is different from regular walking shoes, sandals, boots, or other fashionable footwear. Make sure your child has shoes that are designed for sports.
Are they right for the sport? – Not all shoes are equal. Football or soccer cleats aren’t the same as track shoes. Each type of shoe is designed for the unique stresses of that sport.
Do the old shoes still fit? – Kids’ feet grow quickly. Sports shoes they wore last year may no longer fit correctly.
Are the old shoes too worn? – If your child is done growing, the shoes may still need to be replaced if they are worn out and breaking down.
Not all sports footwear or athletic shoes are made equally, and shoes need to have sufficient support to be effective. Don’t take your child’s sports shoes for granted. Now is the time to check footwear for wear and tear and replace old pairs. If you’re not sure how to fit footwear or just want extra help making sure your child starts the season right, let our team with Gulf South Foot & Ankle, LLC help. Contact our offices today for more information or to schedule a consultation with our experts. Just call (504) 708-4810 for Metairie or (985) 809-1464 for Covington.