19 Best Soccer Training Gear Items Every Player Needs

Stop wasting money on soccer gear that makes you look good in the team photo but does nothing for your performance on the pitch. Soccer gets its popular nickname, “the beautiful game,” because it is one of the simplest sports that requires little to no equipment. The truth is that all you really need is a soccer ball and your bare feet to start playing, enjoying, and getting better at the game.

However, if you’re serious about improving as a player, whether you’re aiming to go pro, make your school team, or simply outplay your friends, having the right training gear can give you a competitive advantage. Of course, your training gear and equipment are not going to be as important as your training and recovery on and off the field, but the right training equipment can help you get more out of your training sessions, develop better technique, and prevent injuries that could disrupt your progress.

With that being said, having quality soccer training gear and equipment is only effective when you combine that with proper development of the most important skills of the game, soccer IQ, awareness, decision making, creativity, your first touch, your weaker foot, and mastering skill moves. The best soccer training gear and equipment also work hand-in-hand with the best passing, shooting, and dribbling drills, since they will help you set up the drills, to maximize your performance and help you become a better player.

That is why investing in high-quality soccer training gear is crucial for serious soccer players who want to save money in the long run while getting the most out of their training sessions. In this post, I will be going over the best soccer training gear and equipment that is actually worth your money.

What are the Best Soccer Training Gear that Players Need?

Soccer Bag with Ball Holder

To start off this list, you are going to need a soccer bag or backpack to make it easier to transport the rest of your training gear and equipment. Look for a soccer bag with enough space to fit all your equipment in, separate compartments for easy organization, and built for different weather conditions. You can choose from sack-packs to backpacks to any other style that works for your current situation.

Soccer Balls

When it comes to soccer balls, you want to make sure you are training with high quality balls that have the proper air pressure, so they are not too flat or too hard. You also want to make sure that you have the right size soccer ball for your age and playing level.

Good quality soccer balls will last longer than cheaper ones, giving you more bang for your buck, and in the long run, you will save money by not having to buy balls too often. Also, the more soccer balls you have, the more you can spend time training instead of ball shagging during passing, shooting, and crossing drills.

Soccer Ball Bag

If you’re investing in multiple soccer balls to maximize your training sessions and spend less time ball shagging during shooting and passing drills, a quality ball bag becomes an essential piece of soccer training equipment. The best soccer ball bags offer durable storage, easy portability, and enough space to carry all your training balls and equipment to practice.

Soccer Ball Pump

Almost as important as the ball itself is the ball pump. A ball pump is used to deflate and inflate soccer balls, and it is one of the most essential pieces of equipment.

There is nothing worse than getting to a field all ready to play, only to find out that your ball has no air inside and you don’t have a ball pump. Avoid this problem by investing in a high quality ball pump that is light, easy to use, easy to transport, and that you will not forget to pack inside of your soccer bag or soccer ball bag.

Soccer Cleats

Your soccer cleats are your weapon on the field, and you need to make sure you have the right type of soccer cleats based on the surface you will be playing on to play your best and avoid injury.

• Firm Ground Cleats: Designed for natural grass fields.
• Soft Ground Cleats: Designed for wet and muddy grass fields
• Artificial Turf Shoes: Designed for artificial surfaces
• Indoor shoes: Designed for indoor surfaces and harder outdoor surfaces

Also, consider choosing wide soccer cleats made out of high-quality materials such as leather, which can mold to the shape of your feet for a custom and near perfect fit.

Soccer Cleat Bag

Every serious soccer player needs a dedicated cleat bag to maintain their most important piece of soccer equipment, their soccer cleats, while preventing odors from spreading to other gear. A high-quality soccer cleat bag will have ventilated compartments that allow airflow and help preserve the durability of your cleats between training sessions.

Soccer Cleat Insoles

Having a pair of high-quality insoles is one of the best ways to improve the responsiveness and effectiveness of your soccer cleats. Even having an extra pair of high quality insoles can come in very handy because you never know when you might need them.

Also, if your current insoles are ripped, you might want to consider getting new insoles to improve the responsiveness of your cleats rather than replacing the entire pair of shoes. This can save you money while still giving you the comfort, support, and performance boost you need on the field.

If you are a soccer player looking for the highest quality soccer insoles, the VKTRY Premium Insoles are made from the highest quality carbon fiber materials that offer support, stability, and shock absorption that is scientifically proven to help you run faster, jump higher, and protect you from injury.

Grip Socks

Grip socks are a valuable piece of soccer gear because they are basically high-quality socks with sticky grip pads that prevent your feet from sliding around, which reduces the risk of getting blisters. To wear grip socks in official matches, you will need to learn how to cut soccer socks and wear them like a pro, but for training and pickup games, you can wear them as they are.

Training Soccer Jerseys

Soccer training jerseys are another basic, but important, part of your soccer training gear that impacts your comfort and performance during intense training sessions and agility drills. The best soccer training jerseys will be made from high-quality moisture-wicking materials that will help players maintain focus on developing ball control, shooting accuracy, and coordination without distraction from sweat or discomfort.

Investing in durable training jerseys ensures you can practice consistently while maintaining the professional appearance and functionality needed for proper soccer development.

Training Soccer Shorts

High-performance training shorts are another important piece of soccer gear that directly impacts your comfort and ability to perform during intense training sessions. The best soccer training shorts feature moisture-wicking materials and a flexible construction to help you maintain focus on developing ball control and coordination without distraction from uncomfortable gear.

Cold Weather Soccer Gear

Cold weather conditions can severely impact your performance and focus during training sessions, which is why specialized soccer training gear is essential for year-round skill development. Quality cold-weather gear helps maintain muscle warmth and flexibility, allowing you to perform agility drills, practice ball control, and work on shooting accuracy without weather conditions affecting your coordination and balance.

The best cold-weather soccer equipment features moisture-wicking materials that are durable, but flexible, and this includes gear such as

• Training Pants – Insulated pants that keep leg muscles warm during cold-weather training sessions
• Training Jackets – Lightweight outer layer that provides warmth without restricting movement during practice
• Gloves – Specialized soccer gloves that maintain hand warmth and grip for ball handling
• Neck Warmers/Snoods – Tubular fabric that covers the neck and lower face for wind protection
• Thermal Base Layers – Moisture-wicking undergarments worn beneath jerseys to regulate body temperature

Shin Guards and Shing Guard Sleeves

Shin guards are by far the most important protective soccer gear required for safe play, while shin guard sleeves ensure they stay in the right place during intense training sessions and games. The best shin guards offer lightweight protection that doesn’t restrict your agility or ball control, and high-quality sleeves provide compression and stability for consistent performance.

This essential soccer training gear combination helps prevent injuries while allowing you to focus on developing your skills, shooting accuracy, and footwork without worrying about getting kicked in the shin.

Indoor Soccer Ball

Indoor soccer balls are specialized training equipment designed for futsal and indoor play, which are heavier than regular soccer balls to reduce bounce and improve ball control characteristics on hard surfaces. The best indoor soccer balls, like those from Senda Athletics, use premium construction with machine-stitched panels and butyl bladders for superior durability and air retention during intense training sessions.

If you’re a player who likes to play different variations of the beautiful game, an indoor soccer ball is a must-have for sharpening your touch, improving quick passing, and adapting your skills to faster, tighter spaces. It’s a great way to stay sharp year-round, especially when outdoor fields aren’t available.

Rebound Nets and Boards

A soccer rebounder is an excellent training tool, especially when you have to do a solo training session. The rebounder, which can come as a rebound board or rebound net, acts as a training partner and will pass the ball back to you without ever getting tired.

Many rebounders also come with different angles, which means the ball will come back at you in different ways and heights, which can help keep the training fun and engaging. For example, one side of the board may bounce the ball back on the ground while the other side sends the ball in the air.

If you don’t have access to a rebounder, go and find a wall.

Training Cones

Training cones are simple yet effective tools that can help set up drills for passing, dribbling, and agility, as well as help set up boundaries for scrimmages and small-sided games, which is the best way to use training cones. Training cones come in various sizes, colors, and shapes, and can be used in many different ways.

Portable Soccer Goal (Goals)

Portable soccer goals are versatile training equipment that transform any open space into a practice area or small-sided game. The best portable goals, including smaller PUGG pop-up goals and larger training goals, offer different target sizes that help you work on different aspects of the game.

Having multiple goal sizes allows you to create diverse training sessions that help improve shooting accuracy, practice different shot patterns, and develop the muscle memory needed for consistent performance during games. This piece of equipment is extra useful if you don’t have regular access to full-sized goals.

Soccer Tracker

There are many types of soccer trackers on the market, from cleat straps, like the one above, to gps vest trackers that look like sports bras. A soccer tracker is not a must-have piece of equipment by any means, but if you have the money and you are really into stats, then they could be worth the investment.

However, it is very important to be aware of the potential dangers of wearing this type of technology, as GPS trackers can emit Non-Native EMF, which is a form of electromagnetic radiation that may harm your mitochondrial function. With that being said, there are some benefits to tracking your stats, although it shouldn’t be a priority when it comes to your overall soccer development because talent, which can’t really be measured, is more important.

Massage Recovery Tool

The best massage recovery tool that players should use after a hard training session or game is a spiky ball, so that you can centralize the pressure into one place. Foam rollers provide a larger surface area, which may feel better in some parts of the body; however, you are not able to get as deep as you would with a spiky ball.

To get rid of fascia adhesions, it is best to use a tool that gives deep and centralized pressure, like the spiky ball, lacrosse ball, or tennis ball, which are also very easy-to-use and easy-to-transport.

Barefoot Shoes

Barefoot shoes are a way to take care of your feet after a hard training session. Most soccer cleats are narrow, even the wider models, compared to the type of footwear we should be wearing, but cleats are designed that way because that is how they perform best for soccer.

One way to help your feet after being inside cleats for hours is by spending time in barefoot shoes because they have a wide toe box and a flat sole that allows your feet to splay and have more space for natural movements.

Final Thoughts

The difference between players who make progress and those who plateau often comes down to the quality of their training environment and equipment. While talent is by far the most important thing in soccer, having the right soccer training gear ensures that every practice session is productive, safe, and focused on skill development rather than fighting against subpar equipment.

Invest in these 19 essential items gradually based on your priorities and budget, but remember that even the best soccer training gear won’t replace consistent training, proper technique, and the dedication to improve every time you step on the field.

FAQs

What soccer training equipment is needed to improve my soccer skills?

The best soccer equipment you need to improve your skills, coordination, balance, and physical fitness, some of the most important athletic traits you need for soccer, includes soccer balls, soccer bags, training cones, rebounders, quality soccer balls, and goals. These tools will allow you to create game-like drills to improve ball control, passing and shooting accuracy, and much more.

How do I improve my soccer skills with limited equipment?

To begin improving your soccer skills with limited equipment, it is very important to have at least one ball, some open space, and a wall. With just these things, you can practice dribbling, passing, shooting technique, and ball control consistently, which will build a strong foundation for your game.