Another integral part of the basic soccer gear in my opinion is the shin pad or the shin guard. Some players, especially amateurs, may not like wearing them due to the restriction in movement it may impose on them. The other contributing factor may be the cost.
However, I feel that shin pads are rather important and it’s not worth scrimping on them as a simple reasonable one can be rather affordable. The protection it provides is more than enough to justify the cost. It might cost you more to get your shins treated if they are injured. Not to mention the immense pain! Avid and seasoned soccer players will know the pain that a kick in the shin can give.

What we call the shin is actually the anterior or front part of the tibia which is one of the two major long bones below the knee. The other long bone is called the fibula. The reason why it hurts so bad when you get kicked there is because there is not much protection in front of the bone. There is only skin overlying it and scanty amounts of fats and connective tissue. Therefore a direct kick there will send your nerve endings into overdrive and you over the hill in pain!

Shin pads or shin guards are important in soccer as it protects the shin which is very prone to getting kicked during play and can cause severe pain and swelling if not protected.

Again, many types are available on the market. There are shin pads only, shin pads with lots of cushion and protection, shin pads with ankle guards and many other variations.

Personal preference again is the key word as some doesn’t like the restrictions full shin pads may confer and prefer small shin pads which just barely cover the shins but provide greater ease of movement and mobility.

In professional games, it is mandatory that a shin pad or shin guard be worn in order to play.

Soccer jersey