Shin guards are an essential piece of protective equipment used in baseball, soccer, ice hockey, rugby and a variety of other sports. The tibia, the largest bone in the shin, is close to the surface on the front of the legs and has very little natural cushion in cases of direct impact, such as a stray kick in soccer. Shin guards protect the tibia from injury and breakage. In some cases, shin guards also provide support for the ankles. This important piece of protection has been in use for centuries by both athletes and soldiers and remains largely unchanged.
Ancient Uses
Ancient Greek and Roman art and literature describe the use of greaves, a specialized piece of armor that covered the shins of soldiers. These greaves typically consisted of a thin, flexible sheet of bronze lined with cloth or leather and held to the leg with leather straps. The armor was custom-made to fit the individual soldier, and many greaves have been found in tombs with the wearer's name engraved in the metal.
Greaves are also mentioned in the Bible at 1 Samuel 17:6. The armor, in this case made of copper or brass in varying translations, is said to have been worn by Goliath during his battle with David.
Applied to Soccer
Football Nostalgia indicates that, in 1874, Sam Widdowson of Nottingham Forest in England became the first soccer player to wear shin guards in a game. These large, thick pads were actually intended for use in cricket, and many players found their bulk to be inhibitory in an active game like soccer. There is no history to point to when shin guards began their use in cricket.
Modern Integration into Sports
There is much debate over who introduced shin guards into the baseball catcher's collection of armor, but Roger Bresnahan is commonly credited with this innovation in 1907. It has been argued, however, that many players had been using shin guards discreetly for years before.
It wasn't until 1990 that FIFA, the governing body of international soccer, made shin guards mandatory equipment for all players.
Evolution
The modern athletic shin guards are much smaller and sleeker than the cricket pads that gave way to their creation. The guards can now be worn under long socks and commonly allow for a full range of natural motion. Instead of thick padding, most players now opt for thin plastic or fiberglass, though these do not provide the same amount of protection.
Member Comments