Uniform Information

                        (additional details)

Club Uniform:
  Green jersey
  Black shorts
  Green socks - shin guards are required.

The following outlines the basic soccer uniform requirements  and lists some sources for them. With the exception of the jersey's, these items can be obtained at any sports store. 

• Shirt/Jersey (Required)

The standard shirt is Kelly green with white piping. The club logo is on the front. The player's name (it can be a nickname, first name or last name up to 12 characters) and a one or two digit number (player's choice) are printed on the back.

Players are encouraged to err on the side of a large shirt: they will last several seasons and, in late Fall, players will frequently want to wear another shirt underneath for warmth.

• Shorts

The club shorts are black, but any shorts are acceptable, as long as they do not have any pockets or belt loops. Standard gym shorts are fine. 

• Socks

Long Kelly green socks, with or without white tops, are the NWA Lions' standard colors. Any socks, however, are acceptable as long as they completely cover the shin guards.

• Shin Guards (Required)

Shin guards are required at all games and practices. They will make the difference between a bruise and a broken leg.

There are basically three kinds of shin guards:

1. Shell shin guards are a plastic shell designed to protect the front part of a player's shin and lower leg. They may come with or without straps to anchor them. They offer little or no protection to blows from the side or back. The advantages of this guard are that they are very light and inexpensive (usually around $5). They are adequate for younger players, and plenty of adults play with them as well.

2. "Tri-Safe" shin guards have a heavier and normally larger plastic front piece, usually rising higher than shell shin guards. They are a sock type guard in that they are pulled on over the foot. Most will have plastic shells over the lateral parts of the shin. Tri-Safe are heavier than shell shin guards and protect a wider surface of the leg. They are probably the most used in the soccer world. They are considerably more expensive than shell shin guards, running from $10 on up. Both the shell and the tri-safe shin guard must be completely covered by socks.
   
   

3. Falling somewhere in between shell and tri-safes are the Sock shin guard. They normally consist of a foam front and a full (but footless) sock. They are pulled on over the foot, and are the only shin guards that can be worn outside of a player's socks. They probably cost about what the cheaper tri-safes cost. My personal opinion is that you should buy either the tri-safes or the shells, depending on the age and size of the player and your attitude towards risk.
• Shoes

Soccer cleats are not required, but are strongly recommended: our fields get very slick with just minimal rain. Anyone taking a decent swing at the ball while wearing sneakers is likely to wind up on his/her tush. This is usually considered quite humorous by all except the tushee and his/her parents. Soccer shoes come in three basic types:

1. Flat soles (Flats) are normally used for indoor soccer only, or worn by coaches. They are not normally suitable for outdoor use.
   
   
2. Nubbin soled shoes have soles that are entirely covered by little short, rounded nubbins. They are best suited for dry fields. Some feel they are marginally better for the very young players because the nubbins are a little shorter than cleats, offering a little less leverage on the ankle in case of turn or twist.
   
   
3. Cleats are the most popular soccer shoes. Their soles have round cleats that offer better traction when the fields are wet and slick. Some cleated shoes have screw-in cleats, so a player can cleat his/her shoes based on field conditions. These shoes can be hazardous because the cleats do break off, leaving only the screw sticking out. This can cause serious injury. If you are only going to buy one pair of shoes, cleated (but not screw-ins) are the recommended ones on Arlington fields.

The NWAL Jerseys are available from American Challenge by calling 1-800-638-9112 between 9AM-4:30PM and locally at Soccer Kicks

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