Shin guards are an important piece of protective equipment worn by catchers in baseball and softball and by hockey players. Soccer players also wear shin guards. Some baseball batters wear shin guards, as do all umpires. The shin guards in baseball, hockey and soccer have a protective plastic shell and foam padding on the part closest to the leg.
Function
The shin guards protect the lower leg from injuries by padding them. In baseball, the primary beneficiaries are catchers, who must block pitches in the dirt and also face being hit by foul tips. In ice hockey, all players wear shin guards, and they are used to block shots and passes. Defensemen try to time their blocks by sliding their lower legs in the shooting lane. Forwards often block passes and shots by getting in the way and starting the play in the opposite direction. Soccer players need protection from their shin pads when two players contest the ball at the same time and one player's foot makes contact with his opponent's shins.
Features
Shin pads feature foam padding on the inside and a hard plastic shell on the outside. The plastic shell absorbs much of the force of the contact and disburses it, while the padding on the inside prevents the lower leg from getting injured.
Types
The catcher's shin pads in baseball are usually custom-made at the professional level, and they go from the top of the knee to the top of the foot. The shin guards are secured into place with buckles, and they often have a wedge-shaped pad called a knee saver in the back to eliminate some of the stress of crouching on every pitch. A hockey player's shin guards are not as bulky or long as the catcher's. They start at the knee and stop just above skate level. The shin guards in soccer usually slide into the socks and provide protection for the shin starting about 2 to 3 inches below the knee and extending down about 6 to 8 inches.
Effects
The shin guards are primarily designed to prevent injuries in all sports. Catchers need to check their shin guards nearly every game to make sure the hard plastic shell has not been breached and the buckles are not broken. The same goes for hockey players. In addition to providing protection, hockey shin guards can help forwards start the attack because a standing block of a shot will propel the puck in the opposite direction. A quick move can give that player an attempt at a breakaway.
Warning
The shin guards are useful tools that can prevent injury. However, players can still suffer injuries when wearing them. A soccer player's shin guards are thin so the player's ability to move is not impacted. A hard kick to the shin guard can result in a broken leg. A hockey player who uses his shin guards to block a shot can get injured if the shot hits the upper leg and not the area protected by the guard.
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