Keeping Our Players Safe: The Ultimate Guide to Soccer Cleats on Artificial Turf

As we gear up for practices and tournaments, we want to talk about a piece of equipment that is critical to our players' safety: their cleats.

Infographic comparing red, black, and green cleats for turf safety and traction.

Because many of our games and practices take place on artificial turf, it is incredibly important to understand that not all cleats are created equal. In fact, research shows that wearing the wrong type of cleats on artificial turf can drastically increase the risk of severe lower-body injuries, particularly to the knees and ankles.

Here is everything parents and coaches need to know to make the safest footwear choices for our young athletes.

The Hidden Danger of Turf: "Cleat Lock"

To understand why cleat choice matters, we have to look at how a shoe interacts with the ground. When a player wearing aggressive cleats plants their foot to make a sharp cut on natural grass, the soil and grass will eventually tear and give way, safely releasing the foot.

Artificial turf, however, is made of highly durable plastic fibers and rubber infill that do not yield or tear. If a player wears aggressive cleats on turf, their foot can become anchored or "locked" into the ground during a pivot. Because the turf refuses to give way, all of that twisting force is sent directly up the leg to the ankle and knee joints, often resulting in severe injuries like Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) tears

Infographic comparing cleat lock contact on turf: red left shows poor traction, green right shows optimal traction.

A Crucial Note for Our Female Athletes
This information is especially critical for the girls in our club. Female athletes naturally exhibit different landing and cutting mechanics, and they sustain ACL injuries at much higher rates than males. Alarmingly, epidemiological data shows that female soccer players experience an 18% higher risk of ACL injury when playing on artificial turf compared to natural grass. Wearing high-traction, aggressive cleats on turf can easily exceed a female athlete's ligament capacity during a state of fatigue, drastically increasing this risk.

The Golden Rule: "More is Best, Round is Sound!"

When shopping for cleats to use on artificial turf, we want to maximize comfort and safety by following a simple club motto: "More is best, round is sound!"

Here is what that means and how it applies to the different types of cleats on the market:

1. Avoid "FG" (Firm Ground) Cleats with Blades Firm Ground (FG) cleats are the most common shoes in the store, but they are built specifically for natural grass. They typically feature 10 to 12 long, widely spaced cleats, often in the shape of blades or chevrons.

The Danger: On artificial turf, these long blades act like anchors. They cannot fully penetrate the hard backing of the turf, leading to instability, and their bladed shape actively resists rotation, creating a massive risk for "cleat lock". We strongly advise against wearing bladed FG cleats on artificial turf.

2. Look for "AG" (Artificial Grass) Cleats AG cleats are specifically engineered for modern synthetic turf.

The Benefit: They feature more cleats (often 20 or more) that are shorter, hollowed, and round (conical). This high number of short cleats distributes the player's weight evenly across the foot, reducing joint stress and preventing painful pressure points. Most importantly, the round shape allows the foot to pivot and release safely from the turf, preventing knee and ankle injuries.

3. "TF" (Turf) Shoes are Great for Younger Kids Turf shoes feature a flat rubber sole covered in small rubber nubs.

The Benefit: They offer excellent, safe traction on artificial surfaces without the risk of the foot getting stuck. For our younger players (ages 6-10) whose growing feet are sensitive to pressure, TF shoes are incredibly comfortable and one of the safest options available.

Three step banners with cartoon fish: two green panels and one pink panel with Japanese text.

Your Quick Shoe-Shopping Checklist

Next time you are at the sporting goods store, keep this quick checklist handy:

Check the Label: Look for the letters AG (Artificial Grass), MG (Multi-Ground), or TF (Turf) on the box.
Check the Bottom: Flip the shoe over. You want a high number of short, perfectly round/circular cleats.
Avoid the Blades: If the cleats look like long rectangles, triangles, or sharp chevrons, put them back on the shelf—they are too aggressive for turf.

By choosing the right cleats, we can help prevent injuries, keep our kids comfortable, and ensure they spend the season out on the field having fun. Let’s have a safe and fantastic season!

Any parents wishing to reach out on this topic or any others, please feel free to contact me at ryan.bowen@mifc.org

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button
Slide title

Write your caption here

Button

The Clumsy Phase: What Parents Need to Know About Peak Height Velocity (PHV)

By Ryan Bowen • August 22, 2026

Have you ever watched your highly coordinated, technically gifted child suddenly look like they have forgotten how to run or dribble? One week they are gliding past defenders, and the next, they are tripping over the ball and struggling with basic agility. As a parent, this can be incredibly confusing and even a little frustrating. You might wonder if they have lost focus, if their cleats are the wrong size, or if they are losing interest in soccer. Before you replace their gear or have a stern talk about effort, there is a scientific concept you need to know: Peak Height Velocity (PHV) What is Peak Height Velocity? Peak Height Velocity, or PHV, is the period during adolescence when an athlete experiences their fastest upward growth. It is the core scientific marker of the classic "growth spurt." During this window, athletes don't just grow; their biological structure is rapidly shifting. Understanding when this is happening is one of the most critical aspects of youth sports science, as it impacts everything from performance on the field to injury risk off it. The Science of "Adolescent Awkwardness" The sudden clumsiness you see on the field is a very real physiological phenomenon. Here is exactly what is happening under the surface: Bones Grow First: During PHV, a player's bones grow at an accelerated rate. Muscles and Tendons Lag Behind: The muscles and tendons do not grow at the same speed. They are forced to stretch tightly across these newly lengthened bones. The Brain is Playing Catch-Up: Because the limbs are suddenly longer and the center of gravity has shifted, the brain's internal map of the body is suddenly outdated. Motor control, coordination, and spatial awareness temporarily decline while the nervous system recalibrates to this "new" body. Reading the Growth Curve Correctly To track this phase, sports scientists look at growth velocity. When you look at a standard growth tracking visual, the curve charts the rate of growth against a player's age. It is a common misconception to expect the massive spike in growth to happen later as they mature. In reality, the visual curve peaks right in the middle of these critical youth and early adolescent years. The curve shoots upward as they hit maximum growth velocity, and then slopes downward as they get older and approach their mature adult height. Recognizing that this peak happens exactly when they are in the thick of their youth soccer development is crucial for setting the right expectations.