How to Wear Soccer Shin Guards & Socks

Wear soccer shin guards and socks while playing soccer.

Soccer players wear shin guards to protect their lower legs from injuries while playing. Because the shins are vulnerable to significant contact injury during the game of soccer, wearing shin guards reduces incidence of injury. Usually players wear the shin guards directly over the shins and pull high socks reaching the knees over the shin guards. Attach the shin guards securely to your legs to prevent their movement during play because shifting shin guards may make you uncomfortable.

Things You'll Need

• Shin guards (with straps)
• Knee-high socks

Instructions

1. Hold the shin guard over your shin directly on the skin with the narrow end of the shin guard at the front of your ankle and the wide end up near your knee.

2. Insert your foot through the hole for the ankle padding if your shin guard has this design. If your shin guard lacks this design, continue holding the shin guard in place.

3. Pull the strap around the back of your calf at the bottom of the shin guard first and tighten the straps securely. Repeat the same process with the strap at the top of the shin guard, just below your knee. Make the straps tight enough to hold the shin guard in place but not so tight that you cannot run and flex your calf muscle comfortably.

4. Put your soccer socks on over the shin guards. Pull the socks up to your knees. Some soccer players extend the tops of the socks over the knees and other soccer players fold the socks under the tops of the shin guards.

Tips & Warnings

• If your shin guards do not have straps, use athletic tape to attach the shin guards to your shins above the ankles and below your knees. Make the tape tight enough to hold the shin guards in place, yet comfortable on your legs. You may have to change the athletic tape halfway through a game if you sweat profusely and the tapes loosen.

References

• Soccer Training Info: From Socks to Shin Guards

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish