Do you have a child showing interest and talent in sprinting or short-distance track running? If so, it may be time to consider whether track spikes would give them a competitive advantage. If they would, is it enough of an advantage to be worth the investment?
Not all kids will benefit from track spikes, so there are a few things to consider before spending money on them.
Does your child need spikes?
If your child runs track & field at school once a year and then doesn’t do any other track running throughout the rest of the year, track spikes likely won’t be a worthwhile investment.
However, if your child has taken an interest in track running and is entering or considering entering any competitions, getting them a good pair of track spikes can help them achieve their goals on the track. Not all young children will actually benefit from wearing spikes when they first start, but in the long run, it can be worthwhile to start training in them as soon as they are ready.
What age is “too young” for track spikes?
Most children can begin to use spikes around the age of 11 or 12 safely and also gain a competitive advantage from them.
With children aged 10 and under, there isn’t enough competitiveness to warrant the risk of an injury. Because they are still developing, it is best for them to stick with a good pair of training shoes during training and racing.
Sprint spikes provide little to no cushioning under the heel, so children who are not developed enough to sprint on their toes are more likely to end up with an injury.
What type of track spikes should I get my child?
Due to the lack of support and protection around the heel and ankle, sprint spikes shouldn’t be the first shoe choice for a young child. The best bet is a quality, all-around spike with good support around the heel. This will help avoid unnecessary injuries and allow them to be used for running and jumping events.
Sprint spikes are designed for runners to be on their toes throughout the entire race. Most young athletes will struggle to maintain this form as they are still developing physically, which can lead to a multitude of ankle and heel injuries.
Size and Availability
Not every manufacturer makes a child’s size for all of its shoes, and this goes for track spikes as well. The size your child needs can greatly vary the variety of models they may have to choose from, especially if trying to shop locally.
Ordering track spikes online is a great option for opening up the options available for your child to choose from, with the caveat that they can’t try them on before ordering them. Most websites will allow you to return the shoes if they are the wrong size, but it is always good to double-check their return/exchange policy before ordering.
Only use spikes for racing/competing
Your child should only use their spikes when necessary, such as when competing and during quality sprint sessions. Most of their training can and should be done in a good pair of training shoes to help avoid overuse injuries.
Even warm-ups should be done in training shoes and then swapped out for spikes right before the start of the event
Does spike size matter for children?
As with older sprinters, spike size can make a difference depending on the event your child is participating in. It is important to check the rules for each event, as they may have their own requirements for what is and isn’t allowed.
Tartan/Synthetic Track - 5 to 6 mm
Grass Track - 6 to 12 mm
Jumping Events - 9 mm
Cross Country - 9 to 15 mm
If you’ve been considering investing in track spikes for your young child, this guide should have given you a pretty good indication as to whether they are worthwhile, for more information on choosing track spikes read this blog post. If your child isn’t ready yet, it doesn’t mean that they won’t be one day, so just keep encouraging them to stick to running and continue to progress as they age. Having them run a few events first in training shoes is a great indicator of if they are going to stick with the sport or not before investing in track spikes.