| Soccer Equipment home >
Soccer Equipment Info Center > Shin Guards
Shin Guards
Click
here to see our selection of Shin Guards.
Other sports like football and biking require helmets to protect
athletes’ heads. Soccer does not require helmets, nor does
need it – can you imagine bouncing the ball off of your head
with a helmet on? But soccer players do require protection.
Shin guards offer much needed protection for a very tender area
of the body – shins. Most of the action of soccer games occurs
down around players’ feet. Of course, not all of the play
remains at the feet. Nor do all kicks make contact with the ball…
Often times soccer players shins get kicked or hit with the ball.
Without shin guards, soccer players’ shins would probably
never be rid of bruises and scrapes.
To make sure that shin guards protect your shins as well as they
ought to, it is important to first of all make sure that you have
a pair of shin guards that fits properly and well. Shin guards should
fit closely around the bones of the ankle and end underneath the
knee, not above it. Shin guards should not be restricting –
they should be able to protect while allowing free movement of the
game.
Shin guards protect the shin by creating what some might call an
“armor” around the shin. This armor is only semi-rigid
(far from the armor of knights). Shin guards are sold based on length,
so measure just an inch below the kneecap and an inch above the
ankle to help you decide the proper length. The size of the ankle
cup is also important. It should fit closely so that it can protect
the bones of the ankle.
You always want to wear socks when you’re trying on shin
guards. Socks hold shin guards in place. It is also a good idea
to wear your cleats while trying on shin guards – it is good
to find out how all of these elements work together.
Another good idea is to wear your soccer shin guards to a practice
or two first so that you can get used to them before a big game.
And remember to always wear socks! Some shin guards can be stuck
in a washing machine, but it never hurts to wash them by hand instead,
just to make sure they stay like new longer.
Tip: players may want to powder their shin guards before playing
soccer to help absorb perspiration. Also, never wear cracked shin
guards… You wouldn’t want to wear a cracked helmet,
would you?
This week's top selling soccer products:
|
