The most important form of protection while playing Soccer: Shinguards
Apr 29 '02
The Bottom Line My Guide, I hope it was helpful...
Helmet and shoulder pads in Football, chest pads in hockey, and Headgear in Wrestling(competively, not the WWF style) are the sorts of protection you need in order to be living when the game or match is over. Now in Soccer, Shin guards is a must. Since Soccer(football in the UK) is a sport that involves 99.9% of the game using your feet, and running like the wind(the other % includes the head and chest).
Since the entire game is played by dribbling, and kicking a ball down the field, and there is contact with other players; you HAVE to, I repeat ...HAVE to wear shin guards. Or else you’re going to get kicked and you’re going to be on the ground in pain because your shin cracked or split(yes if you get hit right, your shin can split).
I’ve been playing the sport of soccer since I was a pup(3 years old I believe), and between Now and Then, I’ve had tons and tons of injuries due to the wrong kind of shin guards. So I’m going to let you know what you need to know about choosing the right shin guards for you.
Soft or Hard?(as opposed to paper or plastic)
First of all, there are two different types of shin guards: Soft and Hard. The soft shin guards don’t have the plastic for the shield, and are usually just nylon or hard cotton. Soft shin guards are usually used with the younger ages like 7 and under, because they don’t kick hard enough to send someone's leg out of socket(yet). If you’ve got a little 3 or 4 year old that might be interesting in playing soccer, the soft shin guards are a good beginner guard.
The other type of shin guard is the plastic, which is the sturdiest and strongest shin guard you can get. However there are two types of plastic: weak and strong. In order to keep your shins as safe as possible, the stronger plastic is needed. To determine a weak shin guard, bend one of the shin guards. Depending on how much harder to bend the shin guard means the stronger it is.
Ankle, or no ankle? That is the question
Aside from the shin guards being soft or hard, there are also shin guards that have an ankle guard and don’t have an ankle guard. The shin guards without the ankle guards just cover the shin only; this shin guard is one of the more popular with 10 or 12 under.
The shin guards with ankle guards have some kind of soft plush like cushion that protects the ankle, and most of them have a band that goes along the bottom of your foot that keeps the shin guards from sliding(you know those tight pants that women wear with the thing that goes around the bottom of their feet?).
I used the plastic shin guards that didn’t have ankle guards and just covered the shins up until the U-14 league. They did me fine and I had no problem with them, then when I got to the U-16, the players there don't get all pansy on you and actually try to get the ball...so I knew I needed some shin guards with ankle support. When I picked me out a nice pair at Galyans and played in them the very same day, I knew I could never get another pair of shin guards without a kind of ankle support on them.
Since getting the ankle support shin guards, injuries have been halted to a stand still as the guards have kept my ankles safe and my shins un-harmed.
Pricing: 50 Bucks?! For shin guards?!
Pricing of shin guards varies from place to place, but mostly they’re priced by brand(Puma, Adidas), type, and durability. Now don’t get me wrong, any kind of shin guards you see in the stores are indeed soccer worthy and are approved safe, but the older you get, the stronger type of shin guards have to purchase in order to keep yourself safe. Anyway, most of the more durable, ankle-supported, hard plastic shin guards are going to cost more than the weaker form and non-ankle support shin guards that are often cheaply made(again usually the younger ages use the cheap shin guards, cause they can't and tear someone's shin apart...yet).
Also, shin guards you find at Wal-Mart, K-Mart, and the likes of those stores; are usually the cheaper kind, and I don’t recommend them if you’re looking for top notch protection. Of course, the price beats everything and so if you just want some cheap shin guards(like to use for one game until you can get a better pair), head to one of those stores. The better shin guards can be found at any kind of sports store, soccer store, or any Galyans.
I’d say for the beginner, a nice pair that will keep your shins safe should run about 6-15 dollars....while the more advanced and active players should consider the top of the line to keep their shins the safest they can be(and ankles), which would cost anywhere from 20-70 dollars(my top-notch Adidas pair were 80 dollars on sale...$120 regularly).
Last of All; Are they comfortable?
I think the most important aspect of a pair of shinguards besides nice durability to withstand hard blows, is that they have to be comfortable. A lot of people can't play at their peaks without comfortability as they play(I know I can't). I can never play at my full potential without all of my gear being as comfortable as possible. Most shinguards have the foam lining, but for those that don't...well just don't get them. Also, getting the right size of shinguard will help in comfortability. Don't get them too tight that they bother your leg, and don't get them too loose to where they'll fall down and slip...you shouldn't even feel the shinguards after wearing them a few times: they should be a part of you, united with your heart and soul(actually just your legs but that sounded flashy).
There's sometimes where after a game I'll have my shinguards on until I get ready to take a shower before going to bed, because they're so comfortable that I forget I'm wearing them. This increases my performance on the field, and therefore makes the shin guards I picked a good choice(most Adidas brand ones are good). Also there are shin guards you can get that will mold to the shape of your leg if you can't find the right size of regular shin guards. I used the ones that mold for one season for an out of state team I was on, and they were a lot more comfortable than I thought they were. However I would only use these type as an alternative, but if this is the only choice left...I guess they'd be ok(as long as you purchase a better pair ASAP).
Overall:
I am by no means an expert on shin guards, so consult an employee at your local soccer shop about which ones will suite the way you play; but this guide was just a little starter because I’ve learned quite a lot over my 12 years of playing. Remember; comfort and durability are the most important things to look for in a pair of shinguards.
~Happy Shopping, playing, choosing...whatever
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