r/bootroom

Been thinking about this lately. When you're in an academy or a structured youth setup, someone tells you what to work on, when to train, and gives you feedback. The moment that ends, whether you got released, aged out, went to uni, or just dropped out of organised stuff, suddenly you're on your own.

You've still got the ambition. You've still got the ball. You've just got no idea if what you're doing is actually working.

For anyone who's been in that gap — released, between clubs, post-academy, uni player, weekend baller still trying to level up:

• How did you structure your own training after the formal stuff ended?
• How do you stay motivated when there's nobody making you show up?
• Have you found any way to know if you're actually improving, or is it pure vibes until the next time you play?

Genuinely curious. Feels like there's a whole generation of decent players who fall out of structured football and just kind of… drift, despite still loving the game.

Cheers 🙏

What kind of pitches do people use on the West Coast?

I've lived in cold cities and played on artificial grass/turf (the lines feel blurred on which it is in Brooklyn) in TF boots for as long as I can remember - I haven't touched a grass pitch in a decade.

I'm going to follow the USMNT this World Cup, starting with LA, Seattle, and then LA again. Should I buy different boots so I can jump into some pickup while on the road, or is what I have fine?

If there's a mixture of different organic surfaces, which type of boot would be most universally transferable across them?

For coaches/players in college soccer — how is video review actually done in your program?

How much time goes into preparing clips before review sessions vs just going through full match footage live and pausing as needed?

Genuinely curious whether most programs still rely heavily on manual clipping/editing beforehand, or if that’s more dependent on staff size and resources.

What does it look like where you are?

Recently, I’ve been wanting to get into football. I want to start watching it and I also want to start playing. I’m currently 17 never really had any interest in it until now.

The things I want to know is how can I keep up-to-date on football news and what games to watch?
How do I find a team to support?

I also want to learn how to start playing football. How do I learn the basics and rules?

I’m currently 17 will I ever get to a good level of playing or am I too old?

I am from india and planning to get boots from pro directs. My plan is to either get mercurials or nike phantom pro. Now the Thing is, i rlly want phantoms but i am not aware of the size. I was hoping you guys can help me out :

I have a semi wide feet id say ,

Adidas f50 and Adidas Predator : UK 9

Nike mercurial academy : UK 8

What should I go with guys?

i recently got scudetta ag in size 10 US. I normally wear 9.5 but i saw all the sizing posts for scudetta and everyone was saying get half a size up.
but my thumb hits the top of the shoe. is that normal and just need to break the shoe in? or its a problem and i should get 10.5?

I played football since grade1. It's the only game I didn't think of quitting it.

I'm 21 yo, 59Kg. I know that I'm underweight but I pass well, and I've a good control over the ball but stamina and shooting aren't good. I get desperate when seeing others of my age doing pretty well on the matches. I always hate not being invited by my friends to play matches. I don't compare myself with others but I think it's time to upgrade.Any tips?

https://www.sierra.com/adidas-tiro-pro-thermal-bonded-soccer-ball\~p\~9umad/?filterString=s\~soccer%2F&merch=prod-rec-prod-prod9UMAD

Started playing pickup again recently after nearly 8 years off, used to play defense primarily so that’s what I’ve been playing most.

I’ve noticed people tend not to track back when the ball is lost so it ends up someone on the other team receives the ball in space about 10 yards in front of me, they have a runner on one side, and they’re dribbling towards me/the goal. What’s the best way to defend that scenario?

If you don´t know how to shoot

If you don´t know how to dribble

If you don´t know how to long pass

You can still contribute to the team success, if you have drive, if you want to improve

Become a Center Back (CB)

I AM THE FINAL WALL!

I have 27.5cm feet without socks and about 10-10.5cm width at the widest part. I have had problems with choosing the correct size for years but now been getting tighter fitting boots. I’ve been wearing Copa icon 2s size 9UK that I think fit well but AI has suggested I could wear 8.5UKs and I’ve tried on 8.5UK Gloro 2s and they fit (toe at the end). I’ve worn Nike tiempo ligera pros (2026 version) in 8.5UK and length I think is good but toe box is too tight.

I’ve tried on size 8UK Copa Mundials and I think that’s my size but I’ve read that world cups fit differently? Half a size difference so I’d be a 8.5UK in world cups. Can anyone give me advice on what they think my size would be?

I don't know if they look at it like it effects the play or if they think it doesn't and only the player with the ball does.