If there's no soccer field or large grassy area near your residence, then traditional soccer (football) cleats are not of much use, are they? Consider the Puma Liga XL IT soccer shoe as an alternative. These shoes are designed for indoor surfaces, and the rubber sole is non-marking. These full-grain leather Pumas are perfect for the fast skills that the indoor game demands, and are comfortable enough to wear any time.

Puma Liga XL soccer shoes

As an added bonus, they can also be used on hard surfaces, such as street ball or simply practicing your juggling technique in the driveway. I tried a size 10 pair of the Puma Liga XL IT (White and Black with Red) pictured above, and found them most comfortable. They provide adequate support for quick cuts and fancy footwork, and they are extremely light weight. The laces are set slightly off-center, as is the fashion in soccer shoes today, to provide a greater ball striking area.

The shoes have a simple, yet elegant design and color scheme, with the classic Puma design in black with red trim on a white base color. The tongue folds down over the laces and is secured with Velcro. It's not the most high tech or fancy shoe, but it does the job with a classic look, a comfortable feel, and an affordable price tag. In fact, I wear them to walk my dogs around the neighborhood too, so they are more than just a soccer shoe.

If you are planning to order these shoes online, keep in mind that sizing can sometimes be a bit difficult to predict depending on the brand. The Puma Liga XL IT has a somewhat snug fit, so you may want to consider ordering a half size bigger if you like a little more room in your shoes.

Puma Liga XL Soccer Shoes and other soccer shoes are available at SoccerPro:
Soccer Shoes

The KwikGoal Premier referee jersey is the perfect shirt for those of you who referee youth, recreational, or local soccer leagues. The shirt is the classic vertical stripe referee jersey design with a collar and two buttons. It comes in five colors: red, yellow, blue, green, and classic black.

The jersey is made of 100% polyester and has an extremely comfortable feel. In addition to comfort, it also has the utilitarian features that a top referee would require. It has two shirt pockets to store red and yellow cards and the referee's book and pencil. The pockets have Velcro closures to avoid the ultimate embarassment for a referee, losing one's cards.

KwikGoal Premier Referee Jersey

The jerseys come in all sizes (YL, S, M, L, XL, XXL). I tried out a classic black jersey (pictured above), and the sizing was accurate, and the feel of the shirt matched what I have found in top replica soccer jerseys from the top Premier League clubs.

Even if you aren't a referee or don't have any plans of becoming a referee, the KwikGoal Premier Referee Jersey could be a great novelty item. It would make a perfect Halloween costume, complete with an eye patch, thick glasses, or a walking cane. Or you could wear this costume to your favorite sporting event to heckle the referees or umpires. Or you could wear the referee shirt to settle a dispute at work with a bit of humor. Whether for serious sport or for fun, I recommend the KwikGoal Premier Referee Jersey for all your officiating needs.

The KwikGoal Premier Referee Jersey and other referee uniforms are available at SoccerPro:
Soccer Referee Uniforms

If you don't live near a soccer field and you don't have a yard big enough to practice your footie skills, then you should consider the Calle Primero Street Soccer Ball. It's perfect for practicing your juggling skills or playing a pick up game of soccer in the street or in a parking lot. It has a durable rubber outer layer that is strong enough to withstand pavement or hard ground. Inside, it has a low bounce premium latex bladder that allows for a soft touch. The Calle Primero ball comes in five colors: black (pictured below), grass with yellow, red, teal, or gold.

Calle Primero Street Soccer Ball

The model I tried out was a size 4 (pictured above), so it was smaller than a standard sized soccer ball, but ideal for a pick up game with friends, especially if you have portable goals that are smaller than normal goals. I plan to start an after-hours game in the parking lot at my office. Or at the very least, use the Calle Primero ball to practice my ball skills in the driveway at home.

When you buy a Calle Primero Soccer Ball you also get a canvas bag with the intriguing name "Ball Sack" printed on the side. As is typically the case, the ball is shipped un-inflated, so be prepared to have a pump and needle on hand. "Calle" means "street" in Spanish, and the ball therefore features the iconic pigeon logo. Join the ranks of the callejeros and take the beautiful game to the streets!

The Calle Primero Street Ball and other soccer balls are available at SoccerPro:

soccer balls

Product Review: Adidas Predator Powerswerve TRX FG

The Adidas Predator Powerswerve is easily the best soccer shoe I have tried. The first time I practiced while wearing the shoes, a few features were instantly noticeable. The control stripes in the "swerve zone" at the side clearly provide more control. You can feel the stripes grip the ball at the point of contact. I certainly don't have the skill set of a professional footballer, but even with my limited skills, I could tell a difference in terms of the swerve I was able to produce. The offset, asymmetrical lacing provided a larger, cleaner strike surface as well.

Also, the shoes were very comfortable. Made from Kangeroo leather, the boots are light weight and provide the required support. The cleats provide excellent traction for quick cuts and changes of direction. One of the first tests I did was a series of quick sprints back and forth, changing directions on a dime. The shoe held up very well in terms of performance and comfort. The pair I tried were black with white stripes but they also come in other colors (see picture below).

adidas
predator

In addition to comfort and ball striking, the Adidas Predator Powerswerve has high tech pizzazz. Probably the coolest feature is called Dynamic PowerPulse. On the bottom of the shoe, you can look through clear plastic to see Tungsten powder in a hollowed out space. The powder shifts to distribute weight toward the toe of the shoe at the point of impact. I'm not sure I was able to notice extra power because of this, but it certainly impressed my friends.

In terms of sizing, the Adidas Predator Powerswerve may run a little on the small size. I wear a size 10 soccer shoe and the Powerswerve I tried was a bit tight at the toe. I know you want a snug fit in a soccer shoe, but it you are ordering online, you might consider a half size larger than what you normally wear. Otherwise, I highly recommend this shoe for its comfort, control, and high tech gadgetry.

Soccer Shoes
http://www.soccerpro.com/Soccer-Shoes-c12/

Product Review: Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Replique
If you're looking for an economical soccer ball to practice with, then I recommend the Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Replique. It is a replica ball of the 2008 Major League Soccer season. It has passed FIFA tests on circumference, weight, rebound, and water absorption. And more importantly, it's about $100 cheaper than the real thing. As always, if you order it online, it will come totally deflated, so obviously you'll need a pump and a needle on hand. The ball is 100% polyurethane and comes with a two year shape and stitching guarantee. I haven't had it long enough to confirm the two-year guarantee, but it's held up just fine for me, even playing on hard and rough surfaces.

Adidas
Teamgeist soccer ball

My Labrador retriever loved playing with it too, and if she can't destroy it, you know it's pretty tough. If you're into the aesthetic look of a soccer ball, the Adidas Teamgeist II MLS Replique has an attractive, swirly design that includes the Adidas and MLS logos. All in all, it's a great buy and fun for the whole family.

Soccer Balls
http://www.soccerpro.com/Soccer-Balls-c45/

Compare Prices of Sporting Goods or Sports Equipment at: http://www.sportpricing.com/

Takkle is a social networking site that provides soccer videos, photos, and a whole lot more. Takkle is a place where students, athletes, coaches, and fans can share their passion for soccer and other sports.
http://www.takkle.com/

Check out the NHL Hockey Blog. Hockey is like soccer on ice, except with sticks and a puck.
http://www.nhlhockeyblog.com

Back by popular demand, Soccer Fan News appears on this links page for a second time. It's so nice, we linked it twice!
http://www.soccerfannews.com

Euro 08 is over and the 2008-09 season won't start for a couple of months. What is there to do? Check out this tennis blog:
http://www.tenniside.com

For the latest on pro baseball in America, check out US Baseball Pro Blog at:
http://www.usbaseballpro.com

If you like to read news about sports, you can't miss this eclectic site:
http://www.sportnewsreader.com/

If you're interested in a variety of sports, check out the Sport Column Blog:
http://www.thesportcolumn.com

If you are a person and you like sport, this might be the site for you:
http://sportforpeople.blogspot.com/

This is a great website that has historical content for all the League teams in England and information for helping kids learn skills, tactics and formations. It's full of informative and fun content for football fans of all ages. Check it out:

http://www.talkfootball.co.uk

Here is a football website you might enjoy. They provide people with news, fixtures, and results for all events of football played worldwide.

http://www.oleolefootball.com

Check out Soccer Fan News. It's a great source of soccer news, funny stories, articles, and video clips.

The BBC provides a page with links to the fixtures/schedules of every team in the Premier League, Football League, and the Conference.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4115346.stm

Michael Davis has a nice blog at ESPN.com. Check out his reports from the World Cup in Germany:

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=davies/index

This site has videos of all the goals scored at the World Cup:
http://goals.infigaro.com

Aberdeen: http://www.afc.co.uk/
Arsenal: http://www.arsenal.com
Aston Villa: http://www.avfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Birmingham City: http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk
Blackburn: http://www.rovers.premiumtv.co.uk
Bolton: http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Brentford: http://www.brentfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Celtic: http://www.celticfc.net
Charlton: http://www.charlton-athletic.co.uk
Chelsea: http://www.chelseafc.com
Coventry City: http://www.ccfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Crystal Palace: http://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Everton: http://www.evertonfc.com
Fulham: http://www.fulhamfc.com
Hearts: http://www.heartsfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Hibernian: http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk
Leeds: http://www.leedsunited.com
Leicester City: http://www.lcfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Liverpool: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv
Manchester City: http://www.mcfc.co.uk
Manchester United: http://www.manutd.com
Middlesbrough: http://www.mfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Newcastle: http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk
Norwich: http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk
Nottingham Forest: http://www.nottinghamforest.premiumtv.co.uk
Portsmouth: http://www.pompeyfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Preston: http://www.pnefc.premiumtv.co.uk
Queens Park Rangers: http://www.qpr.premiumtv.co.uk
Rangers: http://www.rangers.premiumtv.co.uk
Reading: http://www.readingfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Sheffield United: http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk
Sheffield Wednesday: http://www.swfc.premiumtv.co.uk
Southampton: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk
Sunderland: http://www.safc.com
Tottenham: http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com
Watford: http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk
West Brom: http://www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk
West Ham: http://www.whufc.com
Wigan: http://www.wiganlatics.premiumtv.co.uk
Wolverhampton: http://www.wolves.premiumtv.co.uk

Here are a couple of good sites for information on the European Champions League:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Champions_League
http://www.xs4all.nl/~kassiesa/bert/uefa/

England
Premier League: www.sportinglife.com/football/premiership/table/table.html
Championship: www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide1/table/table.html
League One: www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide2/table/table.html
League Two: www.sportinglife.com/football/nationwide3/table/table.html

Spain: La Liga
http://futbol.sportec.com/portaldefutbol/historico/2004/resultados/liga/1division/clasificacion.asp

Italy: Serie A
http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/italy/table/

Germany: Bundesliga
http://www.bundesliga.de/liga/tabelle/

France: Ligue 1
http://www.fff.fr/cgi-bin/championnats/champ_class.pl?code_cg=0000&code_comp=11111

Dutch Eredivisie
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/tables?league=NED.1&cc=5739

USA: MLS
http://www.mlsnet.com/MLS/standings/

An excellent resource providing information about all the football (soccer) stadiums in England and Scotland. This site features pictures of the grounds, descriptions of the stadiums and what it's like for visiting fans, and let's you know the best pub to visit before or after the match. From the Premier League to the Conference, this site has it all. You even learn about "Football's Famous Chicken Balti Pies."

If any of you soccer fans also enjoy goals scored on the ice (and you live in the Southern United States), check out this website devoted to Southern Hockey.

A great source of current and historical statistics, club rankings, league tables, attendance, and much more.

Murphy's Live Score Center provides live scores from every major European league and cup competition and all of the English and Scottish leagues.

Database of European players and teams with an emphasis on football (soccer) in the UK.

Photos and statistics of soccer stadiums throughout the world.

Squad lists for virtually every team in Europe for the current and previous seasons. Includes biographical info on players. Arranged by country.

Stats, standings, and stories from the world of soccer.

The BBC offers a wealth of information on English, Scottish, and European football.