When operating a soccer league or soccer camp, the costs of soccer gear takes up a lot of the budget. While soccer camp fees and league registration fees cover some of the overhead, the coaches and league still spend money outfitting the soccer teams and providing equipment for practices and games.

The pricing and costs of soccer equipment vary depending on the brand and type of equipment. Soccer balls can range anywhere from $12 to well over $100. While most players provide their own pants, socks, shin guards and cleats, outfitting a whole team with jerseys can run you between $20 to $45 per jersey. When shopping through a soccer equipment supplier, look for the following:

1. Look for an online retailer that offers a shopper's club. These clubs usually let you earn points for future purchases or get a percentage off your total.

2. Shop wholesale when buying large quantities of items for a school team or large civic league.

3. Buy from used soccer equipment suppliers. Certain retail chains offer trade-in value for used athletic equipment, making your purchase cheaper.

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Buy from soccer equipment companies that offer discounts

Save money on soccer training equipment by ordering from places that offer discounts on pricing or shipping. This works well when ordering goals, cones, balls and other training equipment. Some places offer discounts based on the total order, while others offer a paid membership that gives you special pricing

I recommend: Sports Endeavors offers a Goal Club membership for about $25. This gives you special pricing on their products, such as paying around $70 for a soccer goal rather than $80. SoccerEmpire.com has a large clearance section on their website. While product offerings do change, soccer balls go for as little as $10, and they also clearance price clothes, shoes and shin guards.

Order from a wholesale soccer equipment company

One of the best ways to get discount soccer equipment is buying wholesale. This is a great option when buying a whole team soccer jerseys or ordering extra supplies for a school district.

I recommend: Soccersaurus offers wholesale pricing on uniforms and equipment, with jerseys ranging from $20 to $30. The more you order from Best Soccer Buys Sporting Goods the greater your discount. This company starts calculating a discount when you order over 10 of the same item.

Get deals on used and new youth soccer equipment

Saving money on youth equipment is easier because kids outgrow athletic equipment quickly. If your league needs extra soccer equipment, then shopping for gently used equipment or new equipment sold in package deals is best for a sports budget.

I recommend: Sports Unlimited sells a youth soccer package of shoes, ball and shin guards for around $35. At Play It Again Sports stores located throughout the U.S., you can get trade-in credit for used equipment and put it towards a purchase. This store is part of the Winmark Corporation, and offers gently used, brand name youth soccer equipment at deeply discounted prices.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  To help offset the costs of running a league or district team, ask parents to donate used soccer equipment. Soccer families are sometimes the best providers of soccer equipment. This helps cut down on the money spent on balls and portable goals.

If you would like to sell soccer equipment retail, you'll need to know a little bit about the sport. Soccer season really heats up in the spring, and teams play in any kind of weather except for thunderstorms. Indoor teams are busiest in the winter months.

When stocking your shelves with soccer gear, you'll need youth soccer equipment and adult gear as well. Soccer shoes are a must for the sport, as well as shin guards and protective equipment for goalies. Soccer equipment companies also make soccer training equipment such as pole sets and speed ladders to help soccer players with their footwork. If you don't have room in your shop to display these items, make sure your customers know that you can order anything they need.

If you want to sell soccer equipment:

1. Make yourself the indispensable source for local teams.
2. Set your shop apart as the place to go for team uniforms and soccer cleats, backyard practice sets and of course soccer balls.
3. Work closely with the team coaches and push the hometown advantage for purchasing their soccer equipment.
4. Purchase name-brand gear from soccer equipment suppliers that will score points with brand-conscious kids and their parents.

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Stock up on safety gear from soccer equipment suppliers

It doesn't take long to figure out that you need to have protection when playing this sport, or you'll end up with some nasty bruises on your shins. Purchase plenty of shin guards for the local teams, or opt for a starter kit. Don't forget about protecting the goalies too.

I recommend: Soccer Wholesale sells goaltender equipment, as well as starter kits that include a practice ball, shin guards and even shoes.

Fill your racks with stylish soccer gear

Make your shop the place to go for soccer uniforms and soccer shoes. By offering personalized team gear and soccer jerseys, you'll make a name for yourself in the soccer community.

I recommend: Providers of soccer equipment include The Best Soccer Buys Sporting Goods, offering team soccer uniforms that they can customize for you. Contact Soccerasaurus for information on soccer shoes in youth and adult sizes.

Be the source for equipment for soccer

Offer larger equipment such as soccer goals and training aids for coaches. You don't necessarily have to stock these items, but advertise in the fall so coaches can come in and place their order from one the soccer equipment companies you know about.

I recommend: Purchase semi-permanent soccer goals from Fold-A-Goal, great for temporary playing situations. Find a portable bench or a speed ladder at Soccer Corner.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get e-mail addresses from your customers so you can promote special deals on soccer equipment without worrying about mailing costs.

Whether you coach a professional soccer team, a school team or a children's team, there are soccer equipment basics every coach should think about. Everyone knows soccer teams need a ball and a goal, but there is a variety of soccer gear available that enhances play and soccer training. As a coach, providing good soccer equipment and working with well-made soccer training equipment helps enhance the skills and strengths of your team.

Soccer players on professional teams that travel the country will usually have their own preferred soccer gear. Coaching a youth league means you'll need your own equipment for soccer, with enough balls, cones and goals for a worthwhile practice. Soccer equipment beyond the typical ball and goal include:

1. Ball bags and field equipment bags. These help keep the balls clean and safe from damage. These bags also help tote a large number of balls in one trip.

2. Soccer training equipment, like passing arcs, hurdles, disc cones and evasion belts.

3. Soccer wear that your team must have include shin guards, socks, soccer jerseys, cleats and goalkeeper gloves for the goalie.

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Get more soccer equipment information

There is a large selection of soccer equipment available, but not all of it's useful for every team. Before buying, do some research on what type of equipment you need. Soccer balls come in sizes 3,4 and 5 and have different feels and firmness. There are also indoor and outdoor soccer shoes. It also helps to familiarize yourself with soccer terms, such as bladder (the heart of the ball that gives it bounce) and PU (short for polyurethane, but frequently abbreviated in catalogs and on websites).

I recommend: Find more information from Soccer Training Info about balls, shoes, shin guards and equipment. SoccerBallWorld.com offers a soccer ball dictionary, with definitions for common words found when shopping for soccer equipment.

Order from soccer equipment companies online

If you live in an area where it's hard finding soccer equipment suppliers, get online and order whatever you need. There is a large number of soccer equipment providers online that offer everything from online discounts to online soccer shopper clubs that help you save money.

I recommend: Order hurdles, goal stakes, cones and more from Keeper Goals. Order training balls, mini balls, indoor balls and match balls from WorldSoccerShop.com. They also offer a wide selection of youth soccer equipment.

Find soccer equipment accessories for your team

Besides the soccer equipment needed for playing the game, there are accessories available for team morale. Browse providers of soccer equipment for trophies, medals and patches.

I recommend: Trophy Depot has all sorts of soccer trophies, plaques and medals for your team. If you coach a women's team, a trophy alternative is a necklace or key chain from Red Rock Designs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't forget about ball pumps and pump needles. This sort of soccer equipment can help save a practice if balls go flat.

Soccer is one of the top five played sports in the United States. If you are a coach, player, equipment manufacturer or owner of a retail sports business, you need to be familiar with soccer equipment's essential terms. When playing soccer, you need items such as balls, jerseys, shin guards, cleats, arches, hurdles, disc cones and a goal. Each piece of equipment is equally important and necessary for team success.

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Shin guards

Shin guards are pads worn to protect the player's shins from injury. The tibia can be easily fractured in soccer if not properly protected. Shin guards are a fundamental piece of soccer equipment for every player.

I recommend: Soccer Training Info gives a brief explanation of shin guards and other soccer equipment. it also offers training advice, provides videos and has an online blog.

Cleats

Cleats are the special footwear required by all soccer players. There are different types of cleats available, depending on the field being played on and skill level of the game. The most common cleat is the molded cleat. The molded cleat is suitable for all fields, weather and playing levels. They are ideal for young players due to their proven safety.

I recommend: Dick's Sporting Goods offers a wide selection of cleats as well as a guide explaining cleat styles and how to buy the correct type.

Goal

The soccer goal is required to play a regulation game of soccer. The type of goal you choose depends on various factors. Size and shape are important when selecting the right goal. Size will be chosen based on the age of your players. Goals also come in metal or plastic and include accessories such as nets and anchors.

I recommend: HowStuffWorks gives you information on goals and soccer techniques and tells you how the game is played.

Passing arch

A passing arch is used in training for perfecting a soccer player's ball control and passing accuracy.

I recommend: SPSS explains the use of a passing arch and gives you a visual of how it is used.

Speed hurdles

Speed hurdles are a training apparatus that helps to develop extremely quick feet as well as agility and a quick reaction time.

I recommend: SoccerPro.com gives you a visual of a speed hurdle and how it is used in training. It also provides a brief description of the speed hurdle itself.

Evasion belt

Evasion belts are used by two players to develop, balance, speed and dexterity. The two straps connect the players, allowing them to play without getting too far away from one another. The belt will snap apart when too much distance is given between the two players.

I recommend: Soccer.com provides an explanation of how evasion belts are used. The website sells evasion belts along with a large selection of soccer equipment and supplies.