August in the Treasure Valley means new cleats in the closet, tryouts on every park-district field from Meridian to Eagle, and kids who have spent the summer doing cannonballs at Roaring Springs suddenly sprinting, cutting, and kicking their way through two-a-day practices. It’s exciting—and it’s one of the busiest times of year we see young patients in our office with foot and ankle pain.
Kids' feet are not smaller versions of adult feet. They have open growth plates, rapidly changing proportions, and a remarkable capacity to adapt—but also some specific vulnerabilities that adults don’t share. The good news is that most sports-related foot problems in kids are preventable or very treatable when caught early. Here’s what every Treasure Valley parent should know heading into fall sports season.
Until late adolescence, children have open growth plates (also called physes) at the ends of their bones. These cartilage-rich zones are where bones lengthen, and they are significantly softer and more vulnerable to stress than the surrounding bone. An injury that would strain a ligament in an adult can fracture right through a growth plate in a child. Growth spurts add another layer of complexity: when bones lengthen faster than muscles and tendons can stretch, the resulting tightness increases tension across those same vulnerable growth plates—especially at the heel and the base of the fifth metatarsal along the outer foot.
This is why we always evaluate children differently than adults, and why any foot or ankle injury in a young athlete deserves a careful look rather than a “walk it off” approach.
If your active child is complaining of heel pain that flares with practice and eases after rest, Sever’s disease—properly called calcaneal apophysitis—is the most likely culprit. It accounts for 2–16% of all musculoskeletal complaints in active children and adolescents, making it one of the most common overuse injuries in youth sports. The condition peaks around age 12 in boys and age 11 in girls, though it can appear anywhere between ages 8 and 15.
Despite its name, it’s not actually a disease—it’s inflammation where the Achilles tendon pulls on the heel’s still-developing growth plate during repetitive running and jumping. Soccer, basketball, cross-country, and track are the most common sports involved. Up to 60% of cases affect both heels simultaneously, so don’t assume the other foot is fine because it hasn’t started hurting yet.
Sever’s typically responds well to a combination of activity modification, calf stretching, heel cushions, and supportive footwear. See our overview of heel pain treatment to understand the options. The condition fully resolves once the growth plate closes—usually by age 15—but getting through the season comfortably means not ignoring it.
Ankle sprains are the most common acute injury in high school sports, accounting for roughly 17.6% of all injuries in that age group. In younger children the picture is more complicated: what looks like a sprain may actually involve the growth plate rather than the ligament, because cartilage fails before ligament in a developing foot. The Ottawa Ankle Rules that clinicians use to screen adults for fractures do not reliably apply to children under 18, which is one reason we recommend having young athletes evaluated rather than simply icing and bracing at home.
A sprain that “keeps happening” or leaves a child with an ankle that feels loose or gives way deserves particular attention. Repeated sprains in a young athlete can lead to lasting instability if the ligaments don’t heal properly—something our team addresses as part of comprehensive foot and ankle injury care.
Fall sports season often begins before a child’s conditioning has fully caught up to their enthusiasm. When repetitive stress loads a bone faster than it can remodel, a stress reaction can develop—and left untreated, it can progress to a true stress fracture. The metatarsals (the long bones along the top of the foot) and the navicular bone on the inner arch are common sites in young runners and field-sport athletes.
If those symptoms sound familiar, stop the sport and get an evaluation. Imaging (sometimes an MRI, since early stress reactions don’t always show on X-ray) can distinguish a minor overuse problem from one that needs more protection.
Less dramatic than a sprain, but surprisingly sideline-inducing: toenails that curl under or dig into the skin after weeks in tight or narrow cleats. Rapidly growing feet are the main reason—kids can outgrow a half-size in a single season. Cleats that fit fine at the start of tryouts may be pinching by week four. Blisters along the heel, pinky toe, and ball of foot are often the first sign that the shoe has become too small or has broken down structurally.
Briefly, yes. The playing surface determines the best cleat pattern:
| Surface | Best cleat type | Notes for parents |
|---|---|---|
| Natural grass (firm) | Firm-ground (FG) molded cleats | Most common; good for typical Idaho school fields |
| Artificial turf | Turf shoes (TF) or multi-ground (MG) | Longer FG cleats on turf increase ankle torque and sprain risk |
| Soft or wet grass | Soft-ground (SG) screw-in studs | Rarely needed in the dry Treasure Valley summer; watch for overuse on hard ground |
| Indoor gym / hard court | Flat-soled court or turf shoe | Cleats on gym floors cause slipping and toe injuries |
Football cleats tend to run narrower than soccer cleats. If your child has wider feet, prioritize fit over brand—the right width prevents blistering, nail trauma, and the toe crowding that contributes to ingrown nails.
Equipment is only part of the equation. How kids train matters just as much, especially during the ramp-up of August two-a-days:
Trust your child’s report of pain—kids aren’t usually looking for an excuse to miss soccer. These signs suggest the foot or ankle needs to be evaluated before they return to sport:
Most sports foot problems in children are urgent but not emergencies. A few situations, however, warrant same-day or emergency care:
For anything less dramatic but still concerning, call our office. We often have same-day appointments available for young athletes who need to be cleared for play.
Heel pain in active kids aged 8–15 is most often Sever’s disease—inflammation at the heel’s growth plate where the Achilles tendon attaches. It is not a true disease but an overuse injury triggered by growth spurts combined with repetitive impact from running and jumping. It typically responds well to rest, stretching, supportive footwear, and heel cushioning. A podiatrist can confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes.
Because kids have open growth plates, ankle injuries that might be a simple sprain in an adult can involve a growth-plate fracture in a child. The Ottawa Ankle Rules used for adults do not fully apply to children under 18. If your child cannot bear weight, has significant swelling over the growth plate, or is still limping after 48–72 hours, get them evaluated and X-rayed.
Cleats are not bad for kids’ feet when properly fitted. The main risks come from cleats that are too narrow, too small, or worn out—all of which concentrate pressure on growing structures. Replace cleats at the start of each season, allow at least a thumb’s width of toe room, and never hand down well-worn cleats from a sibling, as the midsole support is likely compressed.
Seek same-day or emergency care if your child cannot put any weight on the foot or ankle, if there is visible deformity or an open wound, if the limb looks pale or feels cold after an injury, or if the pain came on suddenly from a high-impact event like a collision or fall from height. Suspected growth-plate fractures need timely imaging and treatment to protect normal bone development.
Fall sports in the Treasure Valley are a highlight of childhood—late-summer evenings on a well-watered Meridian soccer field, the smell of cut grass, cooler air rolling down from the foothills. A little preparation now keeps your young athlete on that field rather than in the waiting room. Invest in properly fitted cleats, build in stretching and rest, and take foot pain complaints seriously—kids who speak up when something hurts deserve to be heard.
Dr. Clark Johnson is a board-certified foot and ankle surgeon at Treasure Valley Foot & Ankle in Meridian. If your child is dealing with heel pain, an ankle injury, or any foot concern heading into the season, request an appointment or call (208) 272-9253—same-day evaluations are often available for young athletes.
This article is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional medical evaluation. If your child is in significant pain, cannot bear weight, or you are concerned about a possible fracture, please seek in-person care promptly.
Don’t guess—get a clear answer before the season is in full swing. Same-day appointments often available.