• Select Soccer Balls

• Choose Soccer Boots

• Dress for Soccer Success

• Find Soccer Gear on eBay Australia

• Buy Soccer Gear with Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Select Soccer Balls

Select Soccer Balls

Whether you want to play soccer in your backyard or in a league, you'll need a well constructed soccer ball appropriate for your age. Popular soccer ball brands include Nike soccer balls, Umbro soccer balls, and Adidas soccer balls.

Get to know soccer ball sizing

Soccer balls come in three sizes designed for players in different age groups:

• Soccer balls for children: Size 3 soccer balls, the smallest soccer balls, are designed for children younger than the age of 8. Size 3 soccer balls weigh between 310 to 340 grams and have a circumference of 58.5 to 60 cm.

• Soccer balls for older kids: Buy size 4 soccer balls for players between the ages of 8 and 12. Size 4 soccer balls weigh between 340 to 370 grams and have a circumference of 63.5 to 66 cm.

• Soccer balls for teens and adults: Players over the age of 13, including adults, need size 5 soccer balls. Size 5 soccer balls weigh between 400 and 450 grams and have a circumference of 68.5 to 71 cm.

Evaluate soccer ball construction

Soccer balls have four segments: the cover, panels, lining, and bladder. Look for quality materials and examine the photos in item listings to make sure you don't detect any damage.

• Soccer ball covers: Soccer balls typically have a synthetic leather cover. Polyurethane balls are made of a synthetic material that feels much like leather and have a good feel when in play. Being scuff and water resistant, they are also very durable. For practice, you will probably want a PVC ball as they are the least expensive. While they offer less feel and softness compared to polyurethane balls, they have the greatest durability.

• Soccer ball panels: Panels are the different sections that make up the outside covering of the ball. Soccer balls used in professional matches typically have 32 panels. However, some leagues use soccer balls with 18 or 26 panels. Soccer balls with fewer panels curve more easily when kicked.

• Soccer ball lining: Soccer ball lining, which is inserted between the ball cover and bladder, provides the ball with its shape, feel, control, and structure. Made out of cotton and/or polyester, higher quality balls have more layers of lining compared with lower quality balls.

• Soccer ball bladders: Soccer ball bladder is the inside section of the ball that holds the air and is usually made from latex or butyl. Soccer ball bladders made with butyl have a good feel and retain air better than those made with latex bladders. While soccer balls with latex bladders have a softer, more responsive feel and provide more surface tension, you will need to re-inflate them at least once a week.

Stitching also plays a part in determining the quality of a soccer ball. Hand stitched soccer balls have tighter and stronger seams compared to machine stitched soccer balls but they also cost more. High quality soccer balls use five-ply polyester or similar thread for stitching and some are reinforced with Kevlar. Lower end soccer balls usually have their panels glued together onto the lining. These have a harder feel and should only be used for practice.

Choose Soccer Boots

Choose Soccer Boots

Most soccer leagues require players to wear soccer boots appropriate for the playing surface. Popular choices include Nike boots and Adidas boots.

• Moulded soccer boots: Moulded soccer boots is the most basic soccer shoe design and ideal for beginner to intermediate soccer players. They have non-removable studs made out of plastic or rubber in various patterns on the bottom of the shoes, which makes them suitable for most field types and all weather conditions.

• Detachable soccer boots: More experienced players should choose detachable soccer boots. Detachable boots features studs made out of hard plastic, or plastic studs with metal tips that can be easily screwed on and off and replaced to match field and weather conditions.

• Turf shoes: Instead of using studs, turf shoes have hard rubber soles with various raised pattern on the bottom to provide a good grip. They are ideal on artificial turfs and harder outdoor surfaces.

• Indoor soccer shoes: Low cut and stud free, indoor soccer shoes look like lightweight sneakers and are designed for playing soccer in indoor recreational facilities. The flat, rubbery bottom provides good traction while also preventing damage to the floor.

You'll find leather and synthetic soccer shoes and soccer boots on eBay Australia. Leather offers a better feel for the ball, but synthetic shoes cost less and are easier to maintain.

Dress for Soccer Success

Dress for Soccer Success

After you have a soccer ball and shoes, you’ll want to look for shin guards, socks, goalkeeper gloves, and soccer jerseys.

• Shin guards: The kind of shin guard you need depends on the position you play. Defenders need a heavy duty shin guard and forwards usually use a lighter shin guard with ankle support. A popular brand is Puma shin guards.

• Socks for soccer: Soccer players must wear long soccer socks that fit snugly above the shin guards.

• Goalkeeper gloves: If you plan to play goalkeeper, you'll need a pair of goalkeeper gloves. The palm of the glove is the most important part so pay close attention to it. It’s usually made of latex to provide a very tacky surface to grip the ball. Some latex palms are dimpled, which increases durability, but can lower the stickiness of the glove.

• Soccer jerseys: Most club teams will provide soccer jerseys or give you an option to buy. But that shouldn’t stop you from going out and finding your favourite team’s jersey to wear.

Find Soccer Gear on eBay Australia

Find Soccer Gear on eBay Australia

Once you know what type of soccer equipment you want, go to the Sporting Goods portal, click Soccer, and start searching for item listings on eBay Australia.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings by item type. You'll find links for Balls, Boots, Gloves, Shin Guards, Jerseys, Shorts, Socks, and more.

• Keyword search: Search eBay Australia listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a jersey, type "jersey" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page for more hints on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, shop eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy Soccer Gear with Confidence

Buy Soccer Gear with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500.

• eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Australia veteran with just the information you're looking for!                     

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.