This isn’t necessarily a bad idea depending on your teen’s age. On average, girls feet stop growing at around the age of 14, while foot growth for boys usually stops around age 16. So it’s understandable that parents think of sizing up, depending on what age their kids start wrestling. The downside to sizing up is that the shoe may not fit securely, which can definitely lead to injuries. While a bit of wiggle room in the toe area can be helpful to some teens, loose shoes may compromise ankle stability, and that’s the last thing you want.
Sizing up by a half size is probably safer, though we recommend you speak with your child’s coach before making a final decision. You can also speak with a podiatrist, who can examine your teen’s feet and make recommendations based on factors such as the shape and size of the toes, and previous injuries to the feet or ankle areas. The other option is to buy a half to full size up as a spare, which brings us to the next question.