Can You Wear Regular Soccer Cleats For Indoor Soccer?

Playing indoor soccer can be a fantastic way of staying active even when the weather is not suitable for playing outside. 

However, playing soccer indoors is different than playing outside and raises a few questions. One of the most fundamental questions is – “what kind of cleats should you wear when playing soccer indoors?”

While you can sometimes use regular cleats for indoor soccer, it’s not a good idea. Many indoor soccer locations ban regular cleats entirely as the playing surface for indoor soccer is incompatible with standard soccer cleats. 

When choosing cleats for indoor soccer games, the best way to know what footwear to use is to look at the ground’s surface. 

There are many different types of soccer cleats, and they each give you a strategic advantage depending on the kind of ground you are playing on.

In this article, I will show you why you should avoid wearing regular cleats for indoor soccer and then help you choose the best type of footwear to wear to play soccer indoors successfully and enjoyably!

Why You Should Avoid Wearing Outdoor Cleats Indoors

Before taking you through a brief guide on choosing the best cleats for indoor soccer, let me explain why you should not wear regular outdoor soccer cleats for indoor soccer.

While it may seem like a good idea to wear your outdoor cleats inside, I would not recommend it.

The main reason for this is that indoor surfaces are often harder and smoother than outdoor playing fields, so wearing cleats indoors can do more harm than good.

In addition, if you wear regular cleats in an indoor soccer facility, you can damage and scratch the surface. 

You will also find that indoor soccer rules don’t allow it.

Outdoor cleats dig into the ground and provide traction as you move. Unfortunately, indoor soccer surfaces are usually solid and don’t permit the cleats to dig into the ground at all.

Using the wrong equipment also risks potentially injuring yourself and other players.

You may also find that the location where you are playing indoor soccer bans outdoor cleats. If you do try wearing outdoor cleats during a game, you may end up with a blue card or even a yellow.

If you want to play your best, reduce the risk of injury and protect the playing surface, I recommend sticking with indoor soccer shoes.

If you are unsure what shoes to purchase, check out these options on Amazon.

By taking in these considerations, you can choose the right cleats, improve your performance on the field no matter what position you are playing, and protect the playing surfaces you are using.

Now let’s look at how to choose the correct footwear for indoor soccer.

How To Choose The Best Footwear For Indoor Soccer

When playing soccer inside, you need the proper footwear to keep up with everyone else’s pace. 

There are a few steps you need to follow in order to choose the perfect soccer cleats.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Look At The Indoor Surface

When it comes to indoor soccer, you may come across a variety of different surfaces. 

One of the most common is a hard surface. The hard surface is similar to basketball courts and the hard surfaces they play on. 

In other cases, however, you will play indoor soccer on a ground covered in turf. 

However, even with this option, there are several turf varieties.

You must consider what footwear is appropriate for the turf you will be playing on.

For example, first-generation astroturf is what used to be the most common surface for indoor soccer. 

While it has been replaced as the standard, it is still possible to see this turf. However, it is short and hard, so it needs a specific type of shoe.

On the other hand, current-generation turf is more common to see on indoor soccer grounds these days.

This turf is longer and softer and feels a lot like natural grass. 

Once you know what kind of surface you will be playing on, you can choose the right cleats to match that surface.

2. Choose Cleats Depending On The Surface

Once you are aware of the space you will be playing soccer in, the next step you need to carry out is to choose the right soccer cleats for the surface you will be playing on. 

The good news is that most soccer cleat manufacturers factor suitable surfaces into the marketing campaign. 

Watch the video below to differentiate between two kinds of surfaces:

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TURF AND ARTIFICIAL GRASS?

Cleats usually state what kind of surface they are best for. You can often see these designations on your shoes with abbreviations. 

Here are the standard soccer cleat designations to watch out for:

• Firm Ground (FG)
• Soft Ground (SG)
• Multi-Ground (MG)
• Artificial Grass (AG)
• Turf
• Indoor

You can find out more about each of these in my article – Each Different Type of Soccer Cleat: Explained.

While these designations are helpful, there are some other things to consider. 

In practice, here’s how the shoes match up to the ground surface:

For Playing on Hard Surfaces

You must avoid wearing regular outdoor cleats when playing soccer on a hard surface.

They will only become a hindrance on a harder surface.

Instead, it would be best if you opted for indoor soccer shoes. 

These have a softer, rubber-based sole, allowing you to run fast and efficiently grip the floor’s hard surface. That way, you can gain greater agility and movement and are less likely to lose your balance.

For Playing on First Generation Turf

With astroturf, you must put away your regular soccer cleats once again.

Keep in mind that this turf has very small and short blades of grass. In addition, they are on top of a typically harder surface, so there is not much to grip when you are playing on the surface. 

The best choice when playing with this kind of surface is a turf shoe, which has very short nubs that can grab onto the plastic blades of grass.

Otherwise, you can also play on this surface with your indoor soccer shoes.

For Playing on Current Generation Turf

For this type of surface, you can use multiple types of cleats, depending on the surface and the advantages you want to get while playing.

One of the best choices out there is an artificial glass cleat. These come with a firm sole and shorter studs that help you stay in control while moving fast.

You can also use firm ground cleats if you play on this turf.

This is because these cleats have fewer studs and a more robust sole than artificial grass cleats. 

However, these shoes are designed for play on the ground with dirt and help you get traction by pushing through the grass.

They may not be the best choice for turf, but they can work as an option if necessary.

The multi-ground cleats are an interesting middle ground between artificial grass features and firm ground cleats.

These combine the stud design from both shoes to give you a versatile option that can work with most types of surfaces. 

For example, having circular and bladed studs simultaneously gives you both traction and strength.

Final Thoughts

Always consider the kind of indoor surface you will be playing on, and choose your cleats accordingly.

Each type of cleat is designed for specific surfaces, so using the wrong ones can lead to injury and decreased performance on the field.

And when in doubt, indoor soccer shoes are a safe choice to use on any indoor surface.

For more information on soccer cleats, check out one of my previous articles:

• How Soccer Cleats Should Fit: A Guide
• Remove the Smell From Your Cleats: 11 Tried and Tested Solutions
• 8 Steps To Break In Soccer Cleats Fast