How Does Wearing Shin Guards Protect a Soccer Player?

General Information

A shin guard is a big padded protector that spans from just above the knee all the way to the socks of a soccer player. The inside will be soft foam or other material, and will be heavily padded to help absorb shock. The outer portion of the shin guards are a hard plastic that is intended to deflect aggressive soccer shoes from making contact with the skin. Some shin guards consist only of the plastic outer part and padded inners, and some have extra material on the top and bottom to add protection for the ankles and knees. It is always recommended to get the maximum protection available, especially for youth players.

Material and Fit

No matter which style or brand shin guards you purchase, added protection will definitely be provided. Shin guards come in all kinds of different materials including plastic, thermo-plastic rubber, Polyurethane, K-resin, Polyethylene and even fiberglass. Each of the above examples will provide adequate insurance against shin injuries, so the important thing is to get the model and size that fits best. All shin guards are going to be a tad uncomfortable, but none should slide around or slip down the leg toward your shoes. They should be adjusted so they are tight, without losing circulation.

Protects from Soccer Balls

The actual soccer ball can cause a great amount of pain if it strikes the shin at full speed. The average soccer ball carries 12 pounds per square inch of pressure in them, and can be hurled across the field at a blistering 70 miles per hour! This does not equate to a good time once it contacts your body, so it is best to be as protected as possible. Shin guards are normally very lightweight, and well worth the money spent when it comes to the safety of your legs.

Protects from Kicks

As one would suspect, it takes a very hard kick to get the soccer ball flying around the field, and that kick could miss the ball and end up in your shin. Getting kicked is never any fun, but even less fun on the soccer field because of the cleats players wear in order to grip the terrain so well. Not only can this cause serious cuts and bruises, it can very easily break your leg. The purpose of shin guards is to protect from impact and also to absorb some of the energy from whatever may strike the leg.