re: Buying cleats on eBay

Better to buy a couple of pair over time at that age. As mentioned, the second tier models are more affordable. My son plays in the same number of leagues, and you'll need backups from sloppy field conditions. He's hard on his cleats, and the second and third tier models have always held up to be hand-me-downs to other kids. It's easier to go to a brick and mortar store and let the kid try on and pick out a pair (in a previously explained price range.)

I've just gone through this process with my kid. He'd find some cool pair of cleats, and come to find out they're a limited edition run of 300 pairs and cost $3,000. I always found a pair on Ebay that said "from same factory in Hungary. Same boot for you money." Having said all of that... I've had great luck buying used cleats online for my kids when they were younger. Not so much luck now that they are wearing more popular sizes.

My kids are lucky that I spare him the stories of digging through the boxes of old cleats in the fieldhouse at school, grabbing a pair of old high-top Pony football cleats and taking a hacksaw to the front cleat to make it legal.