Laces should be tight. When shopping for cleats, wear the same style of socks you intend to wear in competition. Shop in the afternoon, when the feet are naturally slightly swollen. Investing in proper footwear for a young athlete is much less expensive than medical treatment later. Artificial Turf Contact sports are sometimes played on artificial turf, which presents a new set of concerns for an athlete.
Some surfaces simulate the texture of grass, and others are little more than carpet.
All forms of artificial surface are harder than grass, and make for speeded-up competition. Cross-training shoes or sneakers are the footwear of choice on artificial turf. Trainers and physicians frequently tape the feet and ankles of their players for added stability, especially on artificial turf. Proper taping can help prevent injuries from occurring, and keep a minor injury from becoming a major one. Injuries and Treatments Keeping the lower extremity healthy is so important to an athlete that most all professional football and soccer teams have a team podiatrists, who treats minor problems like corns, calluses, and blisters, to major injuries like fractures and dislocations.