Useful information & resources

What boots for JLM Synthetic?

A new season. A new pitch. A new pair of boots?

With a new synthetic pitch at JL Murphy, it's important our players have the right boots - for player safety and performance. We have drafed this guide - it may also  be worth doing your own research to ensure you get the right boots for the season. In the end this comes down to the choice of the player (and/or parent). There are plenty of articles (see examples below) that tackle this issue – with most aligned to this guide. You can also ask shoe retailers if you want more information. 

The club has drafted this guide to help with the choices that are out there. 


Summary

Further below is more detail, but the key points include: 


One pair or two pairs?


Where can I buy the right boots? 

As well as retailers such as Rebel Sport or Ultra Football there are plenty of online shops - simply google “Football Boots AG Artificial Grass”.


Below is some further background and a high level guide to choosing the right pair of boots:



Background

JL Murphy (JLM) Reserve Pitch 3 is MPFC Juniors Home Pitch. For the past 15 years JLM  has been our  base for weeknight training, Saturday morning “Intraclub” (social football) – and all our Saturday/Sunday Home matches. The pitch has recently undergone a massive redevelopment, upgrading the pitch from a grass pitch (that struggled with use, became waterlogged and barely limped through a season) to a brand new 4G Synthetic (Artificial Grass) pitch, able to be used year round.

This move to a synthetic pitch has been a long time coming -  with MPFC working with key stakeholders for the past 5 years to secure the investment - and is a massive step forward for the Club.

With this move comes some changes to the way we work, but also raises and important question for players, especially when it comes to footwear:



What kind of football boots do I need for the new JLM Synthetic?

Consider the guide below (based on our own online research). But we also advise players/parents to undertake further research if they have any questions.

Artificial Grass (AG) boots. AG boots are specifically designed for artificial surfaces like 3G and 4G pitches. They have shorter, rounded (conical), and often hollow studs that distribute pressure evenly, providing excellent traction without penetrating too deeply into the surface. This design reduces the risk of injury and enhances comfort during play. Tip: Try to buy AG boots with reinforced toes (as boots can wear more quickly on the artificial grass).


Firm Ground (FG) boots. FG boots are designed for natural grass pitches. They typically have bladed or conical studs that dig into firm, dry ground, providing stability and grip. While FG boots can be used on some artificial surfaces, they don’t offer the same comfort or safety as AG boots on 3G or 4G synthetic pitches -  as the moulded, often bladed, studs can catch on the turf, causing injury.


Soft Ground (SG) boots. SG Boots are not permitted on the JLM Synthetic. SG boots are specifically designed for soft, wet, or muddy natural grass. They feature longer metal studs that provide superior traction on slippery surfaces. However, SG boots are not suitable for artificial pitches like JLM Synthetic, where they can cause damage to the surface and increase the risk of injury due to excessive grip due to the long (often metal) studs. SG boots are rarely required (or available) in Australia.

[Opposition players wearing SG boots may be permitted, but MPFC Players using JLM Synthetic regularly are not permitted to wear SG boots.]

MultiGround (MG) boots: MG Boots are a versatile option designed to perform reasonably across different surfaces, including 3G, 4G, and natural grass. They feature a mix of stud shapes and sizes, providing decent traction and comfort on both artificial and grass pitches. But with the majority of training and games on synthetic AG is the preferred choice for safety and performance.



So do I need two pairs of boots?



I already have some boots. How do I know if they are OK for JLM Synthetic?

If you already have boots, but are not sure whether they are suitable, the key consideration is the size and shape of the studs.



Where can I buy the right boots? 

As well as retailers such as Rebel Sport or Ultra Football there are plenty of online shops - simply google “Football Boots Artificial Grass AG” (or similar).



Further research

It may be worth doing your own research to ensure you get the right boots for the season. There are plenty of articles (see examples below) that tackle this issue – with most aligned to this guide. However, you can also ask shoe retailers if you want more information.


Some useful videos here:

Video 1: Are YOU making this BIG mistake? AVOID injuries with this tip - FG or AG boots

Video 2: Best Boots for Turf and AG Fields

Video 3: The Ultimate Soleplate Guide For Football Boots


And articles below:

https://www.soccerworld.net/service/footwear-ground-type/

https://www.twentytwomag.com/articles/guide-sg-fg-ag-tf-football-boots-explained

https://www.prodirectsport.com/soccer/articles/buying-guides/complete-guide-to-football-boot-ground-types/

https://www.footy.com/blog/boots/boot-surface-type-guide/

https://www.unisportstore.com/stories/50483-football-boots-for-artificial-grass-guide-to-ag-football-boots/

https://www.lovellsoccer.co.uk/blog/post/football-boot-sole-plates-explained

Squad Portal (restricted)

Restricted Access: only accessed by Administrators, Coaches and Team Managers (specific to each squad)

To assist with recruitment, trials, registration and player management this Portal provides access to player and prospective player details.

2025 season Gameday links for each MPFC each team can be found here.

The FV Club Handbook is designed to assist with frequently asked match day questions, from security and Match Officials to clash strips and ground conditions. This handbook is issued as a guide only and is based on the FV Rules of Competition which always take precedence.

The 2025 Club Strip Report for State League Men’s 1 - 5 can be found here. FV recommend Clubs proactively check the document online prior to your fixtures as any changes to Clubs playing strips will be noted online.State League Men’s


Strip Clash Rules (based on Rules of Competition 2025)


State League Mens & State League Womens


Juniors & Metro



When an official  FV Referee is appointed by FV to an MPFC Home fixture they are now paid directly, and the Club is then invoiced. No payment must be made to the referee on the day by the TM or any other. 

Team Managers play a very important role supporting the team and the coach - in particular easing the coach burden on match day so that they can focus on the team and the game.

Whilst for Miniroos level responsibilities are relatively limited, at Junior League level the TM is critical in managing the season schedule, delegating tasks, and hosting the referee.

These responsibilities are detailed here.

The Ground Marshal plays an integral role in providing support to the clubs, players, parents, coaches and referees participating in Football for a high quality, welcoming and respectful sporting experience.  The Ground Marshal is a nominated club representative who will co-ordinate the efficient completion of match day fixtures. Home clubs must appoint the number of Ground Marshals required for their tier of Football. 

This applies to all teams U7 to Seniors.

See minimum number of Ground Marshals for each Competition:MINIMUM NUMBER OF GROUND MARSHALS


All Junior League (U12+) games must have Assistant Referees (Linespersons), with one appointed from the Home Team and one from the Away Team.

All parents should be able to run the line - see here a quick guide on running the line.

See link to access to the pack presented at the Middle Park FC Volunteer On-boarding Session (held on 22 March 2025).

You’ll learn about:
Our Club – History, values, and strategic direction
Governance – Our Board and committee structure (and where we need help!)
Health & Safety – Key requirements to keep our club safe
Safeguarding – Working with Children’s Checks and mandatory online training
Communications & Policies – How we stay connected and aligned as a club

We've put together a template pack that you might like to use with your Junior teams for a Team Season Kickoff event! The template has been developed to give Coaches & TMs ideas on information that might be useful to increase engagement with parents/carers and players in their team The template is intended to make it clear to everyone what playing for Middle Park Football Club means and to give you the opportunity to explain how your team will operate during the season, so that expectations are set nice & early!!

You do not have to use any of the slides that have been prepared! Customise the pack however it suits you and your team.  You may want to add more slides, or delete many that are not relevant for you.  You know your team best, and what will work for your team.  Some of the information in the pack might spark ideas for you to discuss with your team - the goal is to use the template to help ensure that your team Season Kick-Off engages your team which in turn makes helps to make sure that this season is the most successful & rewarding season possible for each and every team.  

In summary, please use this template in a way that suits your team best.  If the Coaches & TMs haven't yet had a chance to discuss how this season will work for your team, then this might be a good starting point to help get plans underway.  It is recommended that Coaches & TMs work together to come up with the most effective Season Kick-off for each team.

** The link is to a non-editable Powerpoint version.  This should allow you to download the pack so that you can save it yourselves and make changes relevant for your team.  Please feel free to provide any feedback or ideas for improvement to middleparkfc.juniors@gmail.com

MPFC guidelines, principles and support for player recruitment/trials, including assessment criteria for player selection & grading.

FV offer coaching resources, including coaching courses (MPFC will pay or subsidise for our coaches), training plans, tips and support.

Middle Park FC encourage all our teams to enter upcoming tournaments, cups and galas hosted across Victoria. 

Click link here for details of preseason 2025 events that have been confirmed to date. This information will be updated as additional tournaments are confirmed. 

Until our brand new pitch is available (expected in late April) we have arranged 3 special venues for our Juniors pre-season training. 

View the full preseason training schedule for MPFC Juniors.

Personal Accident Insurance Cover

The Football Australia Personal Accident Insurance covers players, team managers, referees, coaches, committee members, directors, office bearers, administrators, selectors, medical officers, ambulance officers, voluntary workers and other match officials that are injured while engaged in activities sanctioned by Football Australia.

Personal Accident Insurance – Policy Overview (Category One)

Personal Accident insurance is for registered players, non-playing officials including team managers, referees, coaches, committee members, directors, office bearers, administrators, selectors, medical officers, physiotherapists, ambulance officers, voluntary workers and other match officials of the Policyholder who are aged eighteen (18) years or older at the date of injury, and engaged in the following activities:

Personal Accident Insurance – Policy Overview (Category Two)

Personal Accident insurance is for registered players, non-playing officials including team managers, referees, coaches, committee members, directors, office bearers, administrators, selectors, medical officers, physiotherapists, ambulance officers, voluntary workers and other match officials of the Policyholder who are aged eighteen (18) years or older at the date of injury, and engaged in the following activities authorised by the Policyholder:

Personal Accident Insurance – Policy Overview (Category Three)

Personal Accident insurance is for registered players, non-playing officials including team managers, referees, coaches, committee members, directors, office bearers, administrators, selectors, medical officers, physiotherapists, ambulance officers, voluntary workers and other match officials of the Policyholder who are aged under eighteen (18) years at the date of injury, and engaged in the following activities:

To make a claim on player insurance, please use this link:

https://football.claimsgateway.com/login