Disclosure: I received a gift card from Sports Authority in exchange for my review. My opinions are authentic and my own. 

My middle daughter is following in her aunts’ footsteps (my sister and step-sisters) by playing soccer this fall. My 2 eldest daughters have been dancers since they were 3 years old, and they are just now exploring other interests.  My eldest tried softball and didn’t like it, but middle sis has already caught the Sporty Girl bug. About halfway through her softball season this past spring, she gleefully exclaimed ” I love sports!” I was toying with the idea of signing  her up for more team sports, and that was the confirmation I needed to do it. And with that, I added cleats, shin guards and activewear to my list of back-to-school needs.

My Purchases

I always have good intentions to buy shoes and clothing in person, especially when it’s for things I don’t know how sizing works. However, due to our busy summer schedule, I knew it would be easier just to buy online.  The last time I purchased shin guards and cleats was in high school(my lack of recent experience is evidenced by my misplacement of the shin guards OVER the socks), but we always went to Sports Authority to get everything.

Since we already have a soccer ball and practice net (it folds up like a beach tent), I didn’t need equipment, but if you wanted to, you could easily set up your own soccer training camp with the available products. You can even purchase full-sized goals if you were serious about the sport. Everything you need for any sport, any fitness activity, you can find at Sports Authority

As one might expect from the website of a sporting goods store which is organized according to activity, it was easy to find what I needed from the SportsAuthority.com homepage. In my case, I was searching for Team Sports, which then opened to a larger menu of products separated by sport. I clicked Soccer and was taken to another landing page where I could narrow down my search by equipment/clothing.  I needed shin guards and cleats, and was able to find both in pink!

I had no problem figuring out the right size for cleats since we just had my daughters’ feet measured at our regular back-to-school shoe excursion. I got her a pair of adidas girls’ cleats in black/pink.

The shin guards, however, were a little tricky. I purchased the Classic Sport Girls’ Soccer Shin Guards in Pink/Grey. Although the page had a Shin Guard Buying Guide under the product preview image, there wasn’t a size chart for the brand (Classic Sport). From the Buying Guide’s left navigation bar menu, I spotted Size Charts, where I found an Umbro guide. I was able to determine that my daughter, who is currently measuring at about 3′ 9″, would fit well with an XS size. When I received my order, the shin guards came in a ziplock type bag that had a similar guide on the back. Luckily, Classic Sport and Umbro have the same measurements.

My final purchase to complete her fall sports wardrobe, was a long-sleeved shirt for when the weather cooled. I found a pink long-sleeved Champion GEAR top for a great price and available in her size.  The light-weight material fit comfortably and allowed my daughter to run around easily without having a bulky or loose-fitting shirt slowing her down. In fact, everything fit well and felt good for her as she took a few practice dribbles. And since activewear is a big trend now for adults and kids, she could wear her shirt to school and not just for sports.

Fall fashion trends for kids are all about neon and bold prints, as seen in the current Sports Authority Fall collection. Take advantage of the FREE SHIPPING offer going on now for orders over $49 and add some bold color and prints to your child’s current sneaker and clothing collection.  Below are just some of the options available now.

The League Card

A nice touch that was included in my order was an sign-up form for “The League” rewards card. That was the first time I ever received a rewards card with an online purchase, but it makes it a lot easier to set your customer up for future purchases and instant savings. With The League card, you get 5% back when you earn 100 points or more during a qualifying period. Additionally, you get a $5 Welcome Reward by email, special member-only offers, and exclusive access to special events.

Social Responsibility

Something else I discovered is that Sports Authorty is a social good company. It’s important for me to work with or support companies that give back to the community. If you go to the About Us page from the website, you’ll learn of their partnerships with various organizations like Amateur Softball Association (ASA), Babe Ruth League www.baberuthleague.org, Pop Warner Little Scholars www.popwarner.com, and Roadrunners Clubs of America www.rrca.org. They are also to supporting local regional, and national events that align with their goals and objectives to promote a healthy lifestyle involving sports and fitness. Click here to learn more and how to contact them with inquiries.

Back-to-School Sweepstakes

With all that talk about soccer, I forgot to mention the big giveaway going on now at SportsAuthority.com! You have until August 31st (which is not a lot of time), to enter to win a $500 gift card for YOU and your school. How cool is that! Learn more at http://www.sportsauthoritybacktoschool.com. 


What sports and activities are you shopping for this year?