Grip socks for kids: size, colour and price for young players

Your child comes home from training with a blister on the heel. Or after every match you hear that the boots "feel weird". Do grip socks work for young players too? Yes, with a few points to watch for growing feet. Read how grip socks work in general in our guide to grip socks.

Do grip socks for kids work as well as for adults?

Yes, the principle is the same at every age. The silicone pattern on the outside of the sole holds the sock against the insole of the boot. The foot slides less. That means less friction and so fewer blisters, plus more stability when cutting and turning. Without a blister, your child keeps going for the whole session. Read where blisters come from in our article on football blisters.

Grip socks do not improve technique and they do not make a boot that is too big fit. They are sports gear, not a medical device. If your child complains about pain rather than a rubbing boot, have it checked by a doctor or physiotherapist.

From which size do youth grip socks fit?

From shoe size EU 34. The smallest size of the Classic GT GRIP Socks is EU 34-37. That usually fits from around eight years old, but the shoe size counts, not the age.

GT Sport Selection does not make grip socks smaller than size 34. If your child still has a smaller foot, a well-fitting normal sock is the better choice.

Classic GT GRIP Socks size	Fits shoe size	Who it is for
EU 34-37	34 to 37	Smallest size, the starting point for young players
EU 38-42	38 to 42	Older youth players and adults
EU 43-47	43 to 47	Adults and young players with big feet
EU 48-52	48 to 52	Very big feet

The sizes of all models are in our grip socks size chart.

When should you size up as feet grow?

As soon as the shoe size moves into the next size. If your child goes from shoe size 37 to 38, it is time for size EU 38-42.

Do not buy one size up so the sock lasts the whole season. A grip sock only works when it fits snugly around the foot. A loose sock folds under the foot. At that spot there is a crease instead of grip.

• Check the shoe size at the start of every season. If your child grows fast, check halfway through as well.
• Buying bigger boots? Check right away if the grip sock still fits.
• Does a deep mark stay on the skin after training or does the sock pinch? Then check the size.

If your child is between two sizes, take the smaller one: a grip sock should fit snugly. For wide feet the larger size is better.

Which grip socks suit youth football?

For most young players, that is the Classic GT GRIP Socks. It is the only GT Sport Selection model that starts at size EU 34-37. It comes in ten colours, so you will almost always find the club colour.

The Classic GT GRIP Socks from GT Sport Selection cost €25 and come in ten colours and four sizes, from EU 34 to 52. The most grip sits on the forefoot where your child pushes off, with extra grip on the heel. The inside of the sole is terry cloth for cushioning.

Model	Smallest size	Colours	Price
Classic GT GRIP Socks	EU 34-37	Ten colours	€25
GT Ultra Light Grip Socks	EU 36-39	White and black	€35
GT Ankle Grip Socks	EU 38-42	White and black	€20

The Ultra Light is thinner and made for a tight-fitting boot. The Ankle is ankle height and made for padel, tennis and badminton. For youth football, the Classic is the logical choice.

Does your child also play futsal? Then you do not need to buy anything extra. The grip works inside the boot, not under it, so the same sock works on a wooden floor, artificial grass and natural grass. Read more in our article on futsal grip socks.

Which colour should you choose for the club sock?

Choose the colour of the club sock. Then the grip sock does not stand out when it shows just above the boot. The Classic comes in white, black, red, royal blue, green, yellow, navy blue, purple, pink and orange.

That also fits the Laws of the Game. Law 4 of the IFAB Laws of the Game says that tape or any material worn over the sock must be the same colour as the part of the sock it covers. In youth matches, the referee and the club decide what they allow. If in doubt, ask the coach.

How do you combine grip socks with a footless sleeve?

Your child wears the grip sock on the bare foot and pulls a footless sleeve in club colours over it. The grip works inside the boot and the sleeve shows the club colour. A normal sock under the grip sock is not a good idea: the foot then slides inside that lower sock.

In youth teams, the socks often belong to the club. Cutting them is not an option then. Use a footless sleeve instead, such as the GT Pro Sleeve Socks. They cost €10 and come in nine colours. Read what footless socks are in our article on footless football socks.

Are the socks your own? Then you can cut off the foot part and wear the rest over the grip sock. Read how to do that neatly in our article on cutting football socks. Do check with the coach first.

How do you wash your child's grip socks?

At 30 degrees, on a delicate cycle and without a tumble dryer. That is what our washing and care instructions say:

• Wash at 30 degrees with similar colours and without bleach.
• Let the socks air dry. The high heat of a tumble dryer can affect the properties of the sock.
• Do not iron and do not dry clean.

With two pairs, it is easy to rotate. There is always a dry pair ready and each sock gets a rest between sessions. More tips are in our article on how to wash grip socks.

How much do grip socks for kids cost?

A pair of Classic GT GRIP Socks costs €25. GT Sport Selection uses fixed prices all year round.

Work it out per wear. If your child trains twice a week and plays one match, they wear a pair about twelve times a month. If that pair lasts four months, you pay about 50 cents per session or match. How long a pair really lasts depends on how often your child plays, how you wash it and how fast the foot grows.

Want everything for the pitch in one go? The GT Matchday Set costs €45. It contains one pair of Classic GT GRIP Socks and two GT Pro Sleeve Socks, one in the home colour and one in the away colour. That is exactly the sum of the separate prices. Your child then has a footless sleeve for home and one for away.

Shipping is free from €45 in Belgium and the Netherlands and from €50 in the rest of the EU. Outside Belgium and the Netherlands, allow a few extra working days for delivery. If the size does not fit, you can return it within 30 days under our returns policy. Read why a grip sock costs more than a normal sock in why are grip socks so expensive.

Practical tips for parents

• Write the name in them. Grip socks look alike in the changing room. A marker on the label is enough.
• Bare foot only. Teach your child to put on the grip sock without another sock underneath.
• Pull the sock straight. The heel of the sock belongs on the heel of the foot. That way the grip sits on the forefoot and the heel.

Conclusion

Grip socks for kids make sense from shoe size EU 34. Choose the Classic in the club colour, take the size that fits now and check again every season. Your child wears the grip sock on the bare foot, under the club sock or under a footless sleeve. All sizes and colours are in our grip socks collection.