Equipment guide
Football equipment explained
Football has a short list of equipment compared to most team sports, but the details matter — from the studs on a pair of boots to the markings on a match ball. This guide walks through every part of the kit bag and the matchday setup, in plain English.
What football equipment covers
Football equipment falls into four broad groups — what each player wears, what the goalkeeper adds on top of that, what officials carry, and what is permanently part of the pitch and goal.
At the most basic level, a player needs a shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards and boots. The goalkeeper wears the same items but in a different colour, with the addition of gloves and sometimes padded clothing. The match officials carry their own kit — a whistle, cards, flags, a watch and, in many competitions, a headset. Around the pitch sit the goal frames and nets, the corner flags and the pitch markings themselves.
On top of that core list, teams also use a growing range of training and performance equipment. Training sessions and warm-ups use bibs, cones and mannequins, while tracking vests and performance systems are common at higher levels. Each of these areas is covered in its own page in this section.
What every player must wear
The basic equipment for every player is set out in Law 4 of the Laws of the Game.
Shirt
A jersey or shirt, with sleeves. Goalkeepers wear colours that distinguish them from the outfield players and the match officials, so the referee can identify them at a glance.
Shorts
Worn in the team's main colour. If a player wears undershorts or tights, they must match the main colour of the shorts.
Socks
Long socks that cover the shin guards. If tape is worn over the socks, it must match the colour of the sock at that point.
Shin guards
Mandatory for every player. They must be made of a suitable material, covered entirely by the socks, and offer a reasonable degree of protection.
Boots
Football boots designed for the surface being played on. Studs and blades must be safe and must not endanger another player.
Nothing dangerous
Players cannot wear anything dangerous, including jewellery. Rings, necklaces, bracelets, earrings and similar items must be removed; taping over jewellery is not permitted under the Laws.
Boots and the match ball
Two pieces of equipment do the most to shape how a match feels — the boots on the players' feet and the ball they use.
Football boots
Boots are designed for specific surfaces, with different stud configurations for firm grass, soft grass, artificial grass and indoor courts. The choice of upper material affects feel on the ball, weight and water resistance.
Read about football bootsMatch balls
A match ball has to meet strict rules on size, weight, pressure and shape. At the top level, balls also carry FIFA Quality Programme marks, which show they have passed independent testing.
Read about match ballsGoalkeeper equipment
The goalkeeper is the only specialist position on the pitch, and the only player with position-specific equipment.
On top of the standard kit, a goalkeeper wears gloves designed to help them catch, parry and throw the ball. Gloves are categorised by palm type and by cut — the shape of the fingers and the way the glove sits on the hand. Some goalkeepers also wear padded shorts or long-sleeved tops with padding at the elbows for diving.
Goalkeeper kit is regulated in the same way as outfield kit, with the added requirement that the colour must distinguish the goalkeeper from the outfield players and from the match officials. Competitions usually try to avoid the two goalkeepers wearing the same colour, but the Laws allow the match to be played if both goalkeepers have the same colour and neither has another shirt.
Around the pitch and on the touchline
A matchday setup involves more than the kit bag — the goals, the markings, the officials' equipment and the team's own training gear all play a part.
Pitch and goal equipment
The goal frames, nets, corner flags and pitch markings. Goal sizes and pitch dimensions change between formats — 11-a-side, 9-a-side, 7-a-side and 5-a-side all use different setups.
Read about pitch and goal equipmentMatch official equipment
The referee's whistle, watch, cards and pen, the assistant referees' flags, the vanishing spray used at free kicks, and the headset that connects officials during a match.
Read about match official equipmentTraining and performance equipment
The bibs, cones and mannequins used in warm-ups, plus the tracking vests and performance systems commonly used in professional and academy football.
Read about training equipmentShin guards
Required equipment for every player, with specific rules on coverage and material. Available in slip-in and strap-on styles, in a range of sizes for adults and children.
Read about shin guardsHow football equipment is regulated
Most football equipment is governed by the Laws of the Game, with extra rules added by competitions and approval marks added by independent testing.
The Laws of the Game are written and reviewed by the International Football Association Board, known as IFAB. Law 1 covers the field of play, Law 2 covers the ball, and Law 4 covers the players' equipment. Between them, these three Laws set the minimum standards that apply at every level of football.
On top of the Laws, individual competitions add their own rules. These cover things such as the colour of kit, the placement of sponsor logos, the name and number style on the back of shirts, and which balls are used. National associations may also add rules of their own — for example, restrictions on metal studs in youth football.
For balls, goals, surfaces and some technologies, FIFA Quality Programme standards can add an independent testing layer. A ball, goal, surface or technology may carry FIFA certification or appear under the relevant FIFA Quality Programme, showing that it has been tested against recognised technical requirements.
What to read next
Once the equipment categories make sense, the natural next step is to look at the most-used items in more detail.