Youth and Adult sports have been increasing in popularity over the past decade. Gone are the days of simple at home work outs and high school sports teams and training. The new era of athleticism evokes all kinds of appealing and high endurance activities.
As far as youth sports are concerned the travel community is expanding each year. Youth travel sports in every type of sport begin as early as eight years of age. These high intensity travel sports help build stronger and more mentally prepared athletes for high school. Once these athletes are in high school and trying out for sport teams, they often are better prepared both mentally and physically. High school is the time for kids to be scouted for colleges in hopes of earning athletic scholarships.
Not just any type of shoe will do when it comes to sports. There are specifically designed athletic shoes that are created with each individual sport in mind. When you shop training shoes you need to be very open and honest with the store employees so they are able to guide you in the right direction for style and fit. It does not matter if you are shopping for yourself or your child athlete. The rules are all the same. The style relates to the fit of the shoe for the type of athletic activity that will be taking place. The only thing a store clerk may take into consideration is if the child is growing. A growing child may have a bit more flexibility in the size of the shoe and the clerk may suggest a half size up to get your full financial worth out of the purchase. Sports specific shoes can be costly but should be considered an investment.
What exactly is being invested into the price of the shoe? This is a simple question to answer. An athletic shoe that is designed to fit a foot for a specific sport will help the athlete navigate the sport with more ease. You would not wear basketball specific shoes for soccer and you would not wear track specific shoes for volleyball. The shoes are designed to support the portion of the foot and ankle that will be impacted the most during the exertion and duration of the activity. A well-designed shoe will cost a bit more than a mass-produced general shoe however you will not need to worry about the quality of the shoe. Cheaper shoes that are used mostly just for lounging are not designed to handle the high level of activity that specialty shoes are. You are investing in the safety of your foot and ankle as well as the durability and functionality of the shoe.
No matter what type of athletic activity you or your child participates in you should always have the proper gear. If you have children in travel sports or if you enjoy cross fit, running, or adult sports you will want to discuss all of your active apparel, shoes and accessories with a trained professional. Consider your gear an investment in your overall well-being.
