Shin guards
Shin guards are pads worn over the front of the lower leg to help protect the shins from knocks and impacts.
Definition
Shin guards, also called shin pads, are protective inserts made from a hard or firm shell backed with cushioning. They sit over the front of the lower leg to help absorb and spread the force of kicks, tackles, sticks or falls, shielding the exposed shin bone during play.
They are compulsory in football and field hockey and are widely worn in martial-arts sparring such as Muay Thai, as well as in ice hockey and other stick and contact sports. Designs range from slip-in pads held by socks or sleeves to larger guards with ankle protection and strap-on fittings.
Where you’ll hear “shin guards”
Sports that use this term:
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Field Hockey
An outdoor team sport that uses curved sticks to move a ball, built on agility and teamwork.
Muay Thai
A striking combat sport using fists, elbows, knees and shins, often trained for fitness and skill.
Ice Hockey
A fast team sport on ice that combines skating skill with quick passing and goal-scoring.
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Equipment
- Shin guardsProtective pads worn over the shins in football and other field sports.
- Football (soccer ball)A round, inflated ball used to play association football and futsal.
- MouthguardA moulded guard worn over the teeth in contact and combat sports.
- Padel racketA solid, stringless perforated racket used to play padel.
- BasketballA large, inflated ball with a dimpled surface used to play basketball.
Skills
Muscle groups
- CalvesThe muscles at the back of the lower leg that point the foot down and spring you off the ground with each step.
- ForearmsThe muscles of the lower arm that move the wrist and fingers and drive grip strength.
- BicepsThe muscles on the front of the upper arm that bend the elbow and turn the forearm.
- ObliquesThe muscles on the sides of the trunk that rotate and side-bend the torso and help brace the core.
- ChestThe broad muscles across the front of the ribcage that push the arms forward and across the body.
Practice & sessions
- Mobility sessionA session built around moving well through a range of motion — gentle, controlled work to help the body move freely.
- Technical sessionA session built around technique — grooving and refining the mechanics of how a movement or shot is executed.
- Conditioning sessionA session built around physical conditioning — developing the fitness qualities a sport draws on, rather than its skills or tactics.
- Tactical sessionA session built around tactics — how you use space, position and patterns of play, rather than the mechanics of a shot.
- Skill-development sessionA session built around learning and improving a skill over time — acquiring it, refining it and making it more reliable.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
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- Content updated
- 2026-08-04
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