Soccer is a contact sport. Players battle it out on the field tackling opponents to win possession of the ball, which can result in unfair contact and injury.
Shin guards are worn in soccer to provide protection to the shin and lower leg area of a player, helping to prevent lower leg injuries.
Why are shin guards important in soccer?
Shin guards, also referred to as shin pads are important for player safety and provide protection to the shin bones and lower legs of soccer players during a match.
Soccer players are more inclined to receive kicks and knocks to the lower legs, due to the nature of the game predominantly played at ground level.
Although shin guards do not guarantee a player from not sustaining an injury during gameplay, this vital equipment does reduce the risk of injury to these vulnerable areas.
To learn more about how shin guards prevent injuries, refer to the following study The Effectiveness of Shin Guards Used by Football Players.
Do professional soccer players wear shin guards?
Injuries do occur at all levels in soccer, due to foul play, mistimed tackles and even through heavy contact that is deemed fair play.
Professional soccer players wear all types of shin guards ranging from different levels of protection to a variety of shapes and materials. Brands also offer different designs and colors that appeal to a players’ individual preference, including options for the traditionalist, to the more flamboyant type of player.
Are shin pads compulsory in soccer?
Soccer’s world governing body, FIFA specifies in Law 4 of FIFA’s Laws of the Game that shin guards are compulsory equipment of a player and must be worn.
Players that choose to wear inadequate shin guards or none at all should be refused entry to the field of play and prevented from playing. Officials should inspect the players’ equipment prior to a match to ensure the players are wearing adequate equipment. The officials should then advise the player to change their equipment if the officials deem it to be unsatisfactory.
If a player has been found on the field without wearing adequate shin guards or none at all, the referee should advise the player to leave the field of play and only be allowed to return when wearing adequate shin protection.
Recognized as mandatory soccer equipment, shin guards come in a variety of types, materials, and sizes. Many players prefer the feeling of playing without wearing shin guards during training sessions and therefore choose to wear shin pads that are small and lightweight. This allows the player to feel lighter and more mobile on the field, without feeling constricted by larger shin pads.
FIFA does specify that shin guards should ‘provide a reasonable amount of protection’, which can generally be determined by measuring the appropriate shin guard size relative to a player’s height or lower leg size.
Despite this, there are no specific guidelines that determine the approved shape and size of shin guards, instead, FIFA only specifies the materials that are permitted.
When did soccer players start wearing shin guards?
Shin guards were first worn in soccer in 1874, introduced by English sportsman Sam Weller Widdowson who at the time was playing soccer for Nottingham Forest and cricket for Nottinghamshire.
After getting tired of receiving kicks and knocks to the shins, Widdowson decided to cut down his set of cricket shin pads and strap them to the outside of his soccer socks with leather straps to protect his shins.
The idea didn’t take off right away, as Widdowson was ridiculed initially for wearing shin guards. However, soon enough people realized the benefits of wearing shin guards and they became widely adopted by players who would wear them under thick wool socks.
Things changed in the 1950s and 1960s, as soccer developed into a more sophisticated game that saw less player misconduct. This resulted in players opting not to wear shin guards, due to a lack of rules in place that could govern players to wear shin guards as a requirement. Eventually, in 1990, shin guards were made compulsory by FIFA.
How have shin guards changed over time?
Like most equipment in soccer, shin guards have changed substantially over the years.
Early shin guards worn in the 1800s were large, heavy and held together by leather straps. This is a contrast to the modern shin guards of today that are lightweight and come in a variety of materials, designs, and shapes.
With so many options available for players to choose from, certain types of shin guards can be better suited for players in specific positions on the field.
Defenders typically require larger shin pads that provide adequate protection to both the shins and ankles. This is due to their defensive responsibilities when tackling opponents and blocking the ball.
Midfielders are constantly on the move and generally in the thick of the action during a match. Therefore players in midfield positions require lightweight shin guards that are still strong in a tackle, yet flexible to allow the player to easily move.
Attackers also require lightweight and flexible shin guards to allow the player to freely move without being restrained. Strikers and forwards may also choose to wear shin guards that have ankle support to provide protection from kicks from behind when receiving the ball.
Shin guard types
There are 3 main types of shin guards a player can wear when playing soccer. The main types of shin guards available are:
1. Slip-in shin guards
Slip-in shin guards are usually lightweight protective molded plates that are worn inside the socks. These shin guards slide into place underneath the sock, sitting directly on the players’ shin, and held in place by the sock.
Some socks are snug enough to keep the shin guards in place during a match, however, there are also slip-in shin guards that are made with a strap attached to the upper section of the shin guard. This is to further secure the shin pad in place by tightening the strap around the calf.
Some players, however, find the strap to be too constricting to the calf, which can result in cramp. Many players prefer to secure slip-in shin guards by wearing shin guard sleeves, shin guard stays or tape instead.
Slip-in shin guards offer less protection than other types of shin guards, however, they are a fantastic option for players wanting to have full movement when they play, with minimal weight added. This type of shin guard is the closest feeling to playing soccer without wearing shin guards.
2. Ankle shin guards
Ankle shin guards provide the most protection for a soccer player, as both the shins and ankles are protected.
This type of shin guard is worn underneath the sock and includes a protective plate with the attached strap to secure around the calf. In addition, ankle protection is also attached to the bottom of the shin guard and secured with a stirrup under the foot.
The key feature for this type of shin guard is the ankle protection. The ankle guard consists of soft padding that wraps around the ankle, cushioning and protecting the vulnerable ankle area from kicks and knocks. Some brands sell these shin guards with removable ankle guards, providing the option for players to play with or without the ankle protection.
Ankle shin guards can be quite bulky and heavier than slip-in shin guards, but they do provide the most protection than any other shin guard type.
3. Shin socks
Shin socks comprise of shin protection built into the sock. This type of shin guard is designed for convenience with the guard built directly into the sock, making it easier for players to wear without worrying about wearing separate items for shin protection.
This type of shin guard is popular amongst kids, due to how easy they are to wear and the convenience of having the shin protection and sock combined.
What are shin guards made of?
Shin guards are made of a number of different materials. According to Law 4 of FIFA’s Laws of the Game, shin guards ‘must be made of a suitable material to provide reasonable protection and covered by socks’.
The majority of shin guards today are made from:
- Rubber
- Plastic
- Fiberglass
- Polyurethane
These materials are generally used to make up the components of each shin guard type.
The main component to any shin guard is the protective plate that covers the shin bone. The shin plate absorbs the majority of the impact during contact.
Today, the majority of shin plates are made from hard plastic or fiberglass. However, as technology improves we are starting to see different materials being used.
For example, carbon fiber is now being used to create ultra-strong and lightweight shin guards. Also, British company Rikoset has manufactured shin guards made from Kevlar, which is the same material used to make bulletproof vests.
How to wear soccer shin guards?
Shin guards are worn under soccer socks and held in place by a strap, tape, shin guard sleeves, shin guard stays or by the sock itself. Some shin guard types are easier to wear than others.
Here are the steps outlining how to wear soccer shin guards:
1. Put on your shin guards
For slip-on shin guards, place the shin guard plate on the center of your shin. For shin guards with ankle protection, slide your foot through the opening of the ankle protection and pull up the shin guards to ensure the plate is covering the center of the shin.
2. Secure your shin guards
Keep them in place during a soccer match to prevent them from moving. This can be done in a number of different ways, prior to putting on your soccer socks.
These include securing shin pads with the accompanying straps by applying the straps around the calves, or by sliding shin guard sleeves over the shin guards. Some soccer socks do provide enough compression to keep shin guards in place.
3. Put on your soccer socks
Shin guards go under socks, so be sure to pull your soccer socks over your shin guards to just below the knee. Shin guards cannot be exposed during a soccer match, so it’s important that your soccer socks are large enough to fully cover your shin guards.
4. Extra securing
To secure shine guards that are without straps or shin guard sleeves, you can choose to use tape or wear shin guard stays on the ankles. These methods will prevent your shin pads from falling down.
How to know which shin guard goes on which leg?
Some shin guards are made to fit either leg for convenience, whereas others are specifically made for each leg.
During the manufacturing process, leg molds are used to shape shin guards. Molds of both legs can be used during the process, which will result in shin pads designed specifically for the left and right legs.
Therefore, to know which shin guard goes on which leg, firstly determine if the shin guards are specifically made for each leg. Shin guards that have a higher left side on one of the guards and higher right side on the other are not identical and therefore have been specifically designed for each leg.
What size shin guards do I need?
When choosing the appropriately sized shin guards to wear, the players’ height or leg size will need to be considered, along with the product sizing recommendations.
Different brands can also have different recommended shin guard sizes, so it’s always a good idea to try on a number of different branded shin guards to find the perfect fit for you.
Soccer shin guard size chart
The shin guard size chart below provides a general guide to shin guard sizes for youth and adults.
Adults
| Size | Adidas | Nike |
| XS | 3′11” – 4’6” | 4’7″- 4’11” |
| S | 4′7” – 5’2” | 4’11”- 5’3″ |
| M | 5’3” – 5’9” | 5’3″- 5’7″ |
| L | 5′10” – 6’1” | 5’7″- 5’11” |
| XL | 6′2″ – 6’5” | 5’11”- 6’7″ |
Youth
| Size | Adidas | Nike | Age |
| S | 3’1′ – 3’9” | 3’11”- 4’3″ | 4-6 |
| M | 3’9” – 4’7” | 4’3″- 4’7″ | 7-9 |
| L | 4’7” – 5’5” | 4’7″- 4’11” | 10-12 |
How do I keep shin guards in place?
During a soccer match, it can be very frustrating if you are constantly having to adjust your shin pads if they keep slipping down during gameplay.
This is generally due to not having the right accessories to secure your shin guards properly before the game. To prevent this from happening, consider wearing shin guard accessories.
Shin guard accessories
There are a variety of accessories available to assist with securing your shin guards in place and providing a comfortable experience when playing soccer.
1. Shin guard sleeves
Shin guard sleeves are similar to compression sleeves that are worn over shin pads to hold the guard in place, preventing any movement during a soccer match. The shin guard sleeve is worn underneath the soccer sock.
Some players prefer the feeling of wearing shin guard sleeves due to the compression it provides, keeping the shin guard firmly in place. Other players, however, choose to not wear compression sleeves, as this can restrict the calf muscle from expanding and can lead to cramp.
2. Shin guard stays
Shin guard stays are worn around the ankles and are designed to prevent shin guards from slipping down. Shin guard stays are worn over soccer socks, wrapping around your ankles and fastened with a hook and loop design or equivalent.
The great thing about wearing stays is that you can get them in a variety of different colors and they can be easily removed without leaving any residue behind.
3. Sock tape
Tape can be used in a variety of ways to secure your shin guards in place. This can be done by wrapping tape over your soccer socks around the ankle, around the shin guard itself, and or around your leg above the shin guard.
One great advantage of wearing tape is the fact that you can decide how firm you would like the tape to be applied. If sock tape is applied too firmly however, this can restrict movement and can also cut into your skin during a match. Some tapes also leave reside on the sock after being removed.
There are a variety of colors and different types of tapes that can be used, however, electrical tape is commonly used due to the elasticity it provides.
Conclusion
Shin guards play a vital role in soccer safety and player protection. Without laws governing the compulsory use of shin guards in soccer today, we’d see far more injuries in the game.
Having said that, far too many players today choose to wear inadequate shin protection. Referees should enforce the law at both an amateur and professional level, in an attempt to prevent this from happening and ultimately protect players from injury.
Perhaps in the near future as technology advances, we may start to see shin guards that are even stronger and more lightweight than the products available today. We’re starting to already see some examples of this with materials such as Kevlar and carbon fiber being used during the manufacturing process.
These new advancements in shin guard technology could be the answer to clamping down on players opting to wear smaller shin guards, due to them wanting to replicate the feeling of playing shin guard free.
Despite this issue, there is still a good variety of different shin guard types and designs available for players today.
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ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Steve. I started playing soccer at the age of 4 at my local soccer club. I developed a passion for the game at an early age that saw me go on to play soccer for 29 years. Soccer is a big part of my life and I want to share with you what I’ve learned along the way. Happy exploring!