Equipment Recommendations

It is the expectation of the club that each player have a bag in which to carry his/her uniform and equipment.  This will always keep the contents in one place and avoid the last minute scrambling looking for items when you are running late.

Some general tips and the recommended list of items a player should have at all times can be found below.

General Tips

• For our younger players, if playing outside on wet days, have your player put on his/her shinguard and sock.  Then place their foot in a plastic sandwich bag before you put on their cleat.  This will help keep their feet dry and warm during the especially cold and wet mornings.
• If playing outside on cold days, be sure to wear sweat pants, sweatshirt, hats and gloves.  A player can wear his/her Sentinel t-shirt over the sweatshirt.
• It is an expectation that all Sentinel players will wear their Sentinel practice t-shirt for training and if they are playing league games, they must wear a complete kit (Sentinel jersey, shorts and socks).
• If cleats are wet after play, stuff them with newspaper.  The newspaper will draw the moisture out of the leather very quickly.
• Ideally, players should arrive about 10-15 minutes before the posted start time of each session in street shoes/sandals. They can be wearing their jersey and club shorts but should plan to put on their socks, shin‐guards and cleats at the field. The same is true before they leave the field – they should take off their cleats, socks and shin‐guards and leave wearing their street shoes/sandals. Removing the shin guards and socks during hot weather helps to avoid skin rashes, etc.
• Everything should be placed in their soccer bag (water bottle, warmups, garbage, everything!) and then leave the field to their ride.
• A ball is properly inflated when a player can squeeze the ball and create just a slight bit of give to the ball. It is not so inflated that it is as hard as a rock but not so deflated that one can easily indent the ball by squeezing it between two hands.
• Please make sure your child is wearing some form of appropriate athletic underwear.
• No jewelry, necklaces, watches, rings, etc. are allowed on the player during practice or matches. So be careful – if your child is going to get their ears pierced do not expect the referee to permit your child to keep the stud in the piercing during the game to prevent the piercing from closing. Your child will probably sit the game. It can be frustrating to sit a game for this reason after a 45 minute commute to the field.

U08 and Younger Players (PK, K, 1st & 2nd)

• Sneakers and soccer cleats (sneakers with light soles only when playing indoor soccer)
• Properly inflated #3 soccer ball with player’s last name written on the ball with a Sharpie pen
• Shin guards and soccer socks (any soccer socks will do; these do not need to be club socks at this age unless you want to purchase them from the club)
• Shorts (any athletic shorts will do; these do not need to be club shorts, however, black shorts are preferred)
• Sentinel T‐Shirt; The cost of the t-shirt is included in the registration fee and t-shirts are usually distributed in the first two weeks of the official start of the season.  

U09 and Older Players

• Soccer cleats and indoor soccer shoes
• Shin‐guards
• Club practice t-shirt, white jersey, black shorts and white socks (the “kit”).  The club will pay for your practice t-shirt but you will need to buy your uniform.  You can order and pay for your uniform by going on line where you registered.  For more info about our uniform policy, click here...
• Water bottle(s) – buy a re‐usable water bottle with your name on it
• Properly inflated soccer ball; Size #4 (U09‐U12); Size #5 (U13 and older) – please write your name on the ball with a Sharpie pen
• Band‐aids
• Inclement weather gear (slicker, warm‐ups, hat, gloves, etc)
• Towel – to wipe off wet grass and mud off the players legs
• A large garbage bag – so when it is raining they can put their back‐pack in the garbage bag to keep it from getting soaked
• Sun screen
• Bubble wrap and tape (if the player has a cast of any type on his/her arm)