Soccer shin guards do an extremely effective job of protecting the vulnerable area of your lower legs from the sting of kicks and hard-struck balls. This protection is so critical that outdoor leagues, as well as certain indoor soccer arenas, almost uniformly require that you wear the guards. If you are an experienced player, you can often hold a package of shin guards up against your legs above the ankle to see at a glance if the length looks right and if the curved shape comfortably molds to your leg shape. If you are a new player or are ordering online, you need to know a bit more about measuring the size of soccer shin guards.
Step 1
Measure your shin from just below the kneecap to an inch above your shoe top. Record this measurement in inches, Sports Authority advises.
Step 2
Measure the shin guards from top to bottom if they are one-piece plastic models. Exclude the detachable ankle guard, more likely to be present on youth models, from your measurement.
Step 3
Match shin guards to your age or height if the seller keys sizes to these parameters rather than length in inches. Look for senior or L shin guards if you are 5 feet, 4 inches or taller, and purchase junior or M shin guards if you are shorter than this height.
Step 4
Look for additional sizes if you are buying for a very small or large player. Size XXS fits players up to 3 feet, 3 inches tall, and XS fits those 3 feet, 4 inches tall to 3 feet, 11 inches. Small shin guards can be labeled S or JR and fit players from 4 feet tall to 4 feet, 7 inches. Players 6 feet or taller need size XL. Eurosport, the leading online supplier, notes that as shin guards increase in size, they become longer and wider to comfortably fit larger leg diameters.
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