With football season here, it's time to start looking into the basics.

Cleats are considered necessary for almost every football league, and some parents don't know where to start. How important is it to chose the right cleats? You might be surprised to know that choosing the right cleats can help prevent injury and improve performance. In short, your child's feet are going to take him everywhere he needs to go on the football field. It's best not to ignore the shoes that will take him there.

Take the advice from Lieutenant Dan Taylor from Forrest Gump:

So what are the things to consider when looking at cleats? Here is a checklist:

Make sure you get the right size

It sounds simple, but you'd be surprised how many kids I see who are trying to squeeze into the cleats their brothers wore the year before or put on extra pairs of socks to make shoes that are too big fit. Take your child to a reputable shoe store and let the store workers measure your child's feet. Their expertise will allow your child to put his best foot forward (both literally and metaphorically).

High-tops, low-cut or something in between?

When choosing between high-tops, mid-tops and low-cut cleats, you are really choosing the level of support for the ankle. This decision will depend on what position your child will be playing. For example, if your child is playing along the offensive line, you will probably want to get high-tops to protect the ankles while blocking. A running back, wide receiver or defensive back may want to use low-cut shoes to allow more movement for cutting. A quarterback, linebacker or defensive end may want a mid-top to have the best of both worlds.

Detachable or molded?

Cleats come in all different shapes and sizes. The longer the cleat, the more grip your child will have (although it can cause your child's foot to get stuck). The smaller the cleat, the less grip (but your child may be able to move quicker). You can buy shoes that have detachable cleats or cleats that are molded to the shoe. Detachable cleats are going to be more expensive, but they will offer more flexibility to change the length based on field conditions. Molded cleats will be cheaper but don't offer a lot of flexibility -- but if your child will be playing on the same field every week, this may be the way to go. Be aware. Not all leagues allow detachable cleats, so be sure to check before you buy.

Leather or synthetics?

You will probably see shoes that are made primarily of leather or synthetic materials, so which should you choose? Leather is the more durable, longer lasting material, but that also makes it the most expensive. This may not be important if your child will grow out of the shoes by next season. Leather also is more flexible and breathes better than synthetics. Synthetics are less expensive and aren't a bad option for single-season use. Most shoes will use synthetic material (even leather ones) for support around the ankle.

Hopefully, you'll be better prepared to shop for cleats this season. When in doubt, remember the words of Lt. Dan:

Two standing orders in this platoon: One, take good care of your feet. Two, try not to do anything stupid - like get yourself killed.

Nick Ragsdale is a football-loving, blog-writing contributor to USA Football and an Indianapolis Colts season-ticket holder. He likes tacos, movies and short walks on the beach (the sand can get hot). You can get more of Nick (140 characters at a time) on Twitter at @USAFootballBlog.