The status of soccer, also called football or association football, in the US is spreading quickly. Local leagues are emerging all over the country and the national team is going from strength to strength on the international stage.

While soccer hasn’t reached the widespread popularity of American football or baseball, it is growing all the time. Its simplicity is a huge attraction. In fact, all you really need to get a game of soccer together is a soccer ball.

Though soccer is almost a religion in many parts of the world, it is only now, with the arrival of international names like David Beckham on the domestic scene, that it is starting to gain momentum in the US.

As mentioned, soccer is quite a simple game. All you need is a few players, 2 goals and a soccer ball. Players, with the exception of the keeper, can not touch the ball with their hands and the team that scores the most goals wins.

Although the soccer ball is the only really vital item – goals can be made from just about anything – there is a huge range of soccer equipment available to buy and the sport has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry. Here is a short summary of the main soccer equipment on the market:

Soccer balls – Footballs can differ a bit in size but generally have the same components. The exterior of the ball used to be made from leather but is now most often made from polyurethane or PVC. Footballs are normally stitched together from a number of pieces and are long-lasting and resistant to water. The next layer is a lining which guards the inflatable bladder, which can be filled with air by a pump.

Soccer shoes – While basic sneakers can suffice for a casual game of football, the more serious soccer player will require quality soccer shoes. These are lightweight, slim shoes, often with a surface that grips to aid control and spin. They can be made from leather or synthetic, though leather is the common choice for comfort. The underside of the football shoe will have studs of some kind, depending on the surface on which they will be used.

Shin guards – Most regular football players use these. The shins are the area of the body most exposed when playing soccer so these light plastic protectors can save on a lot of cuts and bruises, or worse.

Soccer clothes – The three essential items of soccer clothes are jerseys, shorts and socks. Jerseys and shorts are normally made from lightweight polyester to help avoid overheating. Socks normally come up to the knee to help keep shin guards in place.

Goalkeeper gear – This differs slightly from normal soccer gear. Goalkeepers need special gloves that help them catch the soccer ball and they usually wear full-length trousers and jerseys with padded elbows to protect them when diving.