Soccer Shin Guards Question

[giramomma]

DD1 is playing soccer for the first time and she's our first child who is trying the sport.

I've noticed shin guards are all over the map in terms of price. Is this a you get what you pay for thing? Will buying used guards be as effective? Any advice appreciated.

[yogiii]

For DS's first time playing we just got him the cheapest pair $10 new.  They worked fine and still look brand new, LOL.
FWIW, he was only 4.  I wouldn't worry about getting anything better until he was really serious about the sport or older (teens) and play might be more rough

[Deleted]

I went cheap too.  The season was only 8 weeks and until they're older they're not doing any injury causing play anyhow.  Older son outgrew his a lot too.  I have 4 or 5 sets of shin guards and soccer shoes waiting for younger son that are all still in great shape.

[973beachbum]

Different ones go on differently and some kids like/find easier to use some kinds better than others.  I always liked the kind that went on with a velcro strap around the calf as apposed to the ones that had to slip on like a sock.  It was so much easier to put the velcro ones on under the soccer socks than to do the slip on ones.  Especially if you come in running and have to do it on the feild and in cold weather!

As long as the used shin guards are in decent shape it should be fine.  I also gave away my son's cleats and soccer socks.  Most kids don't stay in the same size to use them enough to wear them out. 

Good luck and have fun!

[thyme4change]

Don't spend a lot for 4 year old soccer.  They will only last one season, and the other kids can't kick that hard.  

[Deleted]

At 4 half the kids are sitting on the field playing with dandelions most of the game. 

[thyme4change]

But they are so cute, it makes me squeal to watch them play.  

[giramomma]

DD is almost 8, so I think beyond playing in the dirt stage. She's also finicky. Wanted to do tap. Decided she didn't like it until this week. Recital is next week. So, I don't want to sink any more money into this than is needed, at this point.

My favorite is t-ball, where getting the kids to run the bases in the right direction/order is a major accomplishment.

[thyme4change]

Ah - at a beginner's 8, any guard that is comfortable will do.  When the kids get more into it, there seems to be theories on different shapes and what-not.  But that won't matter at this point.  

[Deleted]

Even at 8.  I really don't see the need to spend a lot.  High school soccer, sure.  But the grade school kids?  I think the guards are mostly just to get them used to wearing all the proper equipment in case they stick with it. 

[chen35]

Even DS, who plays competitive high school soccer, likes the $13 pair from Target the best. You don't need to spend a lot.

[Ryan]

My older son is 6 and has played soccer for a few years and has used the same shin guards.  They maybe cost $15 or something?  I wouldn't buy used shinguards, but that's just me....save that for when they get into other sports.

[andi9899]

Apr 13, 2015 7:20:01 GMT -5 yogiii said:

For DS's first time playing we just got him the cheapest pair $10 new.  They worked fine and still look brand new, LOL.
FWIW, he was only 4.  I wouldn't worry about getting anything better until he was really serious about the sport or older (teens) and play might be more rough

This. Especially if she is small enough that she is still growing pretty steadily. Little kids grow out of everything as soon as you buy it, so some things are OK to go cheaper on.

[andi9899]

Apr 13, 2015 8:02:07 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

At 4 half the kids are sitting on the field playing with dandelions most of the game. 

Thing 1 spent some time during one of her games making grass angels. Another time she ran off the field to ask me to buy her ice cream because the ice cream man was driving by. She only played soccer that one season, so I was pretty glad I didn't spend a lot of money on her gear.

[Annie7]

DS2 has been playing soccer for 12 years now - since he was 3. He uses the one that has the ankle support and the guard itself ties with a Velcro around his calf. He has flat feet and wears orthotics in his shoes. The ankle support is really good for him. I personally think it's good for all players. It somewhat protects your ankle against a kick. When they get older, many don't want to wear the ankle guard one. They want the one you just push into your socks. So, if you can start him out with the ankle one and he gets used to it, he might be willing to wear it later too. Just 2 C from a soccer mom

[milee]

Apr 13, 2015 10:58:29 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Apr 13, 2015 8:02:07 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

At 4 half the kids are sitting on the field playing with dandelions most of the game. 

Thing 1 spent some time during one of her games making grass angels.

I hope you got pictures of this because that's awesome!!!

[Baby Fawkes]

Same advice with everyone else as far as children playing. Just get them the cheap ones. Probably a lot easier to get them the style with the two straps of velcro as 973beachbum mentioned.

If they stick with it and start playing more you'll want to consider upgrading, but probably not until they get to 8-10 years old or so.

When I was playing I was a keeper (at a U21 pro level) and I always wore the guards with the integrated ankle guard, but a lot of the outfield player hated them because they were more cumbersome. By the time they get to the age that the guard style is going to make a significant difference they'll be old enough to tell you which ones and why so you really don't have to worry too much.

[andi9899]

Apr 13, 2015 11:05:17 GMT -5 milee said:

Apr 13, 2015 10:58:29 GMT -5 andi9899 said:

Thing 1 spent some time during one of her games making grass angels.

I hope you got pictures of this because that's awesome!!!

No. I really wish I had. It would be yet another picture to show her kids one day. I do have plenty more. Like the one I took of her after my mom tried to cut her hair herself. My poor baby looked like Herman Munster for a while. I could have killed my mom when I came home to find my baby's hair butchered.

[HoneyBBQ]

Shin guards don't do anything protective wise... at least IME.

I would just buy super cheap ones that the kiddo won't fuss about.

[souldoubt]

I played soccer for 9 years until I reached high school and was over it.  In my early teens I remember one of my teammates forgot his shin guards and we didn't have an extra pair so one of the coaches grabbed paper, folded it in half and had him use that.  Shin guards are a necessity but they're over rated and even more so for kids.  Buy the cheapest pair you can find.  

[CarolinaKat]

Apr 13, 2015 8:02:07 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

At 4 half the kids are sitting on the field playing with dandelions most of the game. 

This is so true. I remember these days!!!!

Get whatever shin guards fit him and that he can wear without complaining. He's not going to be taking really hard force for a while. When I was little I liked the 'sock' ones with the padding around the ankle. 

[Baby Fawkes]

Apr 13, 2015 11:55:33 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Shin guards don't do anything protective wise... at least IME.

I would just buy super cheap ones that the kiddo won't fuss about.

Umm, yeah for young I have to agree, but when adults are playing with studs or cleats they are vital. In the worst case then are the difference between a compound fracture and regular break. In reality they make a massive difference with glancing kicks off the shin that don't hurt or injury you.

[wyouser]

Do the cheap ones. They are no problem for beginners. Shoes on the other hand, are a pain. They outgrow them before they even get grass stained! (now if someone out there could get the handicapped, lefthanded Grandpa to "Tie" those shoes properly) My grandson will kick the soccer ball and it will travel a good 6-10 ft before being stopped by another play. His shoe, on the other hand, will have travelled in the same amount of time, the entire length of the soccer field embedding itself in the net of the goal on the opposite end of the field!

[ken a.k.a OMK]

I didn't have shin guards until I was 15. And it was newspaper in my socks. Didn't have them in college.

gs's had the plastic ones at age 4. I think the kids kicked more shins then soccer ball.

[HoneyBBQ]

Apr 14, 2015 10:31:49 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Apr 13, 2015 11:55:33 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Shin guards don't do anything protective wise... at least IME.

I would just buy super cheap ones that the kiddo won't fuss about.

Umm, yeah for young I have to agree, but when adults are playing with studs or cleats they are vital. In the worst case then are the difference between a compound fracture and regular break. In reality they make a massive difference with glancing kicks off the shin that don't hurt or injury you.

I have never played in an adult league that allowed studs. I was barely allowed to wear them playing in college.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Our soccer shoes had hard rubber studs. I've never seen metal studs or cleats. We did have metal studs on our track shoes. They screwed in and could be replaced or sharpened.

[Baby Fawkes]

Apr 14, 2015 10:58:41 GMT -5 HoneyBBQ said:

Apr 14, 2015 10:31:49 GMT -5 Baby Fawkes said:

Umm, yeah for young I have to agree, but when adults are playing with studs or cleats they are vital. In the worst case then are the difference between a compound fracture and regular break. In reality they make a massive difference with glancing kicks off the shin that don't hurt or injury you.

I have never played in an adult league that allowed studs. I was barely allowed to wear them playing in college.

Probably a culture thing. Growing up in the UK we were wearing studs from the minute we were playing on the field (around 5 or 6). We were also slide tackling at that age as well. That's the big difference. If someone slides in with studs and catches your shin I hope you are wearing shin guards.

[swamp]

They make socks with shin guards in them.

[Wisconsin Beth]

Thank you giramomma - I'm dealing with this too.  DD's first game (1st to 3rd grade team) is on Sat. morning and she needs shin guards, cleats and t-shirt to play. 

[giramomma]

Apr 17, 2015 8:10:42 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

Thank you giramomma - I'm dealing with this too.  DD's first game (1st to 3rd grade team) is on Sat. morning and she needs shin guards, cleats and t-shirt to play. 

Actually, I'm finding the equipment to not be the issue.

My DD is more worried about being the only kid who knows nothing about playing a real game, even though it's a rec league. I have a student that plays soccer, so we are going to see if she can work with DD a little bit.

Also, get the equipment tonight if you can. Stuff is rapidly selling out in my neck of the woods.