Who Invented Soccer Shin Guards?

Playing soccer without shin guards is just asking for trouble, not to mention pain. This protective gear came into play soon after the game sprouted out of Europe and has since become a requirement. New styles, materials and requirements have evolved throughout the years, ensuring soccer shin guards offer the safest and most comfortable protection available.

Soccer shin guards hit the scene in the 1800s. They originated in Europe, where soccer has always been bigger than in the United States, although no single person has been given credit for this most necessary invention. Soccer hails from England, but types of kick-ball games, similar to soccer, can be traced as far back as 200 B.C. in China and other early version in Greece, Rome and Japan. There's no evidence of shin guards in the earlier games.

Anyone who has ever played soccer, even casually around the yard, knows the main function of shin guards. They are meant to protect the shin bone and surrounding areas. They help pad the shin and stop the ball and other players from causing injuries to the area. If the leg is angled correctly when the ball is coming towards you, you can even use the shin guard to your advantage by deflecting the ball in the direction you choose.

Shin guards have evolved dramatically from the originals worn some 200 years ago. Early shin guards were made of a curved steel plate with an inner layer of soft rubber and fastened with ties around the lower leg. Steel has long since gone by the wayside, giving way to an outer shell of plastic, fiberglass, polyurethane or a combination of other hard synthetic materials. The inner rubber padding has been replaced by foam that fits snugly against the shin. Elastic Velcro straps hold the shin guard securely in place, which are much more efficient than earlier ties.

Just as the shin guard materials have evolved, a wide array of different styles are also available. The most common type features a solid, rectangular, curved piece that fits right over the shin. It usually reaches from just above the foot to just below the knee. Some shin guards feature "breathable" fabric or holes to help stop the buildup of sweat which can cause the guards to slip. Some shin guards have an added feature with ankle protectors, which attach to the bottom of the shin guard. These flexible attachments don't impede movement but offer added protection around the lower leg, ankles and Achilles tendon.

Shin guards have become a requirement for playing the game and youth teams have additional requirements. The National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment mandates youth shin guards be tested annually, have a certification seal that proves they passed the testing and also include a label that show which height range the shin guard will adequately fit and protect.