Kitting Out a Growing Child for Sport

FAMILY · GLOBAL

Kitting Out a Growing Child for Sport

Sizing through growth spurts, what to buy new, protective equipment and cost

Children outgrow sports kit faster than they wear it out, which changes what is worth spending on.

Sizing through growth

Buy clothing a size up where it will not affect performance — training tops, tracksuits and jackets. Do not do it with footwear or protective equipment, where a poor fit causes injury.

Measure feet every six to eight weeks, since children rarely say a boot is too small and will simply stop enjoying the sport.

What to buy new

Anything protective — helmets, mouthguards, shin pads, body protectors and eyewear — and footwear. A helmet has an unknown impact history second-hand, which is exactly the thing that matters.

A mouthguard must fit to work, so a boil-and-bite refitted as teeth change, or a custom one from a dentist.

What to buy used

Almost everything else. Rackets, sticks, bats, bags, base layers and outerwear all come through club swap schemes, local groups and resale platforms in good condition.

Many clubs run a kit bank, and asking is usually all it takes.

Keeping costs down

Borrow or hire for the first few sessions before buying anything, since interests change. Buy at the end of a season rather than the start.

Making kit last

Wash promptly without fabric softener, air boots and shoes between sessions, and label everything, since lost property is where most of it goes.

Washing kit

Wash promptly rather than leaving it in a bag, cool and without fabric softener, which destroys wicking. Air boots and pads after every session, since kit sealed in a bag is where smells and skin infections start.

Cover any cut or graze before playing, and do not share water bottles or towels.

Passing it on

Club kit banks, swap groups and charity shops all take clean, complete equipment, and someone else's outgrown boots are exactly what the next family needs.

Growth spurts

Children can go up a shoe size in a few months during a growth spurt, and knee and heel pain during those periods is common and worth mentioning to a GP or physiotherapist rather than pushing through.

Reduce training load temporarily rather than stopping entirely where possible.

Budgeting over a season

Club fees, kit, travel, tournaments and equipment add up considerably. Ask the club what the real annual cost is before committing, since many run hardship funds and payment plans that are never advertised.

Grants exist through governing bodies and local schemes.

Label everything with a name, since lost property is where most kit ends up.

The main thing

Enjoyment and a coach who suits them keeps children in sport far more than equipment does.

WHERE TO BUY

Ready to shop Sport It First? Use the link below to visit the official store.

→ Shop Sport It First — official site

Visit this site