Can You Wear Soccer Cleats for Indoor?

If you’re a soccer player and you’ve been playing for a while, you know that your footwear can have a significant impact on your game.  It may be hard to believe, but there are some shoes that could make your performance worse than it would be if you were simply barefoot.

So, if you play soccer indoors, you may wonder whether you can or should wear your outdoor cleats.

Soccer cleats come in various styles, and you may get a tactical edge by choosing the right one for the surface you’ll be playing on.

For indoor soccer, a peek at the floor is the best indicator of what kind of cleats are needed.

Indoor Soccer Surface Selection

Indoor soccer may be played on a variety of surfaces. Futsal is a kind of soccer played on a hard surface, such as a basketball court, and is hence frequently referred to as “indoor soccer.”

On the other hand, real indoor soccer is often played on turf. But turf comes in many different forms. The original generation of Astroturf is a short and hard turf that was formerly used as an indoor surface and is still used in certain places today.

However, many indoor arenas have recently moved to the softer, longer, more natural artificial grass or field turf surface.

Select Appropriate Soccer Shoes for the Surface

It’s important to choose soccer cleats that are appropriate for the field. Thankfully, the majority of soccer cleats will include a warning label indicating which surfaces they are suitable for. Firm Ground, Soft Ground, Multi-Ground, Artificial Grass, Turf, and Indoor are standard classifications used by manufacturers.

The acronyms FG, SG, MG, and AG, are often used in retail settings, but Turf and Indoor are typically left unabbreviated.

Hard Surface

Indoor soccer shoes are the only acceptable footwear for futsal. As we mentioned before, Futsal is played indoors on a hard floor. Cleats are pretty much useless on a futsal court. Conversely, the soles of indoor soccer shoes are often softer, flatter, and made of rubber, like those of a basketball or tennis shoe, and have a traction pattern. They provide better traction and grip to start and stop on a dime.

First-Generation Artificial Turf

Wearing indoor soccer shoes or turf shoes is acceptable on first-generation astroturf. Artificial turf, often known as “Astroturf,” consists of extremely short plastic grass blades firmly packed together and then spread directly on a hard surface.

Shoes made specifically on artificial grass are recommended on this first-generation surface. Turf shoes are designed with cushioned, super-soft bottoms that provide traction on the synthetic playing field.

There is little difference between first-generation grass and indoor soccer shoes. It is not recommended to use cleats on this surface. But, if you have to, they will work okay.

Current-Generation Turf

Artificial Grass (AG), Multi-Ground (MG), and even Firm Ground (FG) cleats will all function well on the current generation of turf.

Typically, today’s artificial grass is distinguished by longer individual blades of grass filled with microscopic rubber pellets to make the grass smoother and thicker.

“Does Playing Indoor Soccer Require Special Shoes?”

Shoes designed for indoor soccer are quite different from those designed for normal outdoor running. Having a greater feel for the ball is essential in indoor soccer, so it’s best to use shoes designed for the sport. You’ll have enhanced acceleration and better lateral mobility. Some grip issues may arise due to the running shoe’s thick sole, which is packed with air and not designed for the same purpose.

For the younger ages (seven and younger), a regular pair of sneakers will be fine as there is less strength and mobility.

Be Prepared for Outdoor and Indoor Play

When deciding which cleats to wear for an indoor game, keep in mind the surface you’ll be playing on. Using cleats that aren’t meant for the specific surface you’ll be playing on increases your risk of injury and can affect your performance.

To be prepared, we recommend having two sets of cleats: Outdoor and indoor. Depending on what part of the country you are from, you may be playing indoors from December through March so having a pair of each will provide you with footwear you can use all year.