SOCCER SUPPLY

Soccer Shin Guards

February 27th, 2010

What improvements have been made to soccer shin guards over the years?

I can’t seem to find much information about shin guards in the past. What materials were used to make shin guards in the past? What improvements have been made to soccer shin guards over the years?

The first shin guards were made of leather and secured with buckles. They were worn outside of the socks or pants. They were heavy and stiff. Later there were ones (which you can still find today) which were mainly fabric but contained pockets to for bars of plastic. Then came the molded plastic shin guards. Today the most common shin guards are the plastic molded ones, they are lightweight and extremely durable. However, since everyone’s legs are different they can be difficult to fit. There are a couple of shin guards out there that can be custom fitted to the player such as the OSI guard or the Cobra guards. They are made of a special type of plastic that becomes pliable when heated (in water) to near boiling.

How the shin guards stay on has also changed. At first it was straps and buckles. They velcro elastric straps were used. Some shin guards were just meant to slip into the sock, and players would tape them in place. Now many slip in shin guards come with sleeves that not only hold the guard in place but provide some compression to the calf.

As of the 2008 fall season for high school soccer and 2006 for youth teams, all shin guards must carry the NOSCAE stamp of approval. This signifies that the shinguard has undergone extensive testing and it holds up to the stress of the game.

Primo Sport Hexoflex soccer shin guards offer both comfort and protection.