About this product
Shin guards, which are compulsory equipment under Law 4 – and one of the most commonly mis-bought items in football.
The Law itself asks for very little: guards made of a suitable material to provide reasonable protection, and covered by the socks. That is the whole requirement – there is no specified size, thickness or standard. Two things follow that people get wrong constantly. A guard worn outside the sock is not legal and referees do check. And you need two – one guard is not compliance.
Sizing is where most purchases go wrong, because people buy by age or shoe size. Guards are sized by height. Measure from just below the knee to the top of the boot, then take about 5 cm off that figure – the guard should sit two to five centimetres below the knee and reach just above the ankle, so it does not dig into the knee when the leg bends or jam into the ankle when sprinting.
Check the width as well as the length, because this is where cheap guards fail. The guard should cover the full width of the shin bone and wrap slightly around it. A guard that is too narrow leaves the edges of the tibia exposed, which is where a stud actually lands.
On type: slip-in guards are lighter and are what most senior players prefer, but they need a sleeve or tape to stay put. Ankle-guard versions with padded wings and a stirrup are the sensible choice for juniors and defenders, and some youth competitions require them.
Air them after every match. Foam sealed damp in a kit bag in this humidity turns unpleasant within days.
Soccer Shin Guards