The Euros are hot, did you know there's still this to be said about playing football?

With the Euros in full swing recently, are you a football lover who wants to have a good game?

Football is a high-intensity, high-confrontation sport and injuries are inevitable. It's not uncommon for players to get kicked in the calf, and this is where leg braces come into play to protect the leg and reduce the risk of injury.

Some people find wearing shin pads uncomfortable and don't feel comfortable with them, while others don't want to wear them because they affect their play. However, from a safety point of view, it is vital that leg pads are worn.

FIFA has made it compulsory for players to wear shin guards when playing, and Chapter 4 of the IFAB rules for football states that

A footballer must wear a leg guard that provides an appropriate level of protection, is made of plastic, rubber or other similar material and must be fully encased by a football sock.

In a recent La Liga match, Lionel Messi was sent off with a straight red card after a leg-breaking tackle by an opponent. Fortunately, Messi was able to get back to his feet with the protection of his leg pads. Without the leg pads, Messi would have been out for the season and his career would have been in jeopardy, which was frightening to watch.

Messi falls to the ground after a leg-breaking tackle by an opponent

1、The role of the shin guards

In 1874, Sam Weller Widdowson, a British cricket and football player, was inspired by cricket leg guards and tied them to his socks for protection in a football match. They became popular as they reduced the risk of injury and fracture.

They have since evolved into the leg pads that are now commonly used by footballers and enthusiasts, and are also used in sports such as ice hockey and hockey.

They are a great protection in the event of an opponent attacking your calf with spikes or other parts of the body. They generally reduce the pressure on the calf to a few tenths of its original strength and can effectively protect the player's health.

Simply put, the shin guards protect the player by distributing and cushioning the pressure and impulse applied to the calf. In addition, the gap between the shin guard and the leg acts as a cushion and the skin between the leg bone and the shin guard is cushioned to prevent fractures.

So shin guards are very useful and wearing them is still necessary! If you feel uncomfortable wearing leg pads, you can wear leg pads during training to develop a habit early and add a strong guarantee for our own safety.

2. The dangers of not wearing leg pads

So what are the dangers of not wearing shin guards?

Minor bruises and abrasions, or serious fractures!

If a player is not wearing shin guards, there is a high risk of tibia or fibula fractures when a strong force is applied to the calf, or in severe cases, even a thigh bone fracture or a torn cruciate ligament in the knee.

3. Choose the right leg brace

So, how do we choose the right leg brace?

Leg braces can be divided into large and small plates in terms of appearance.

Literally speaking, small plates are lighter and more comfortable, so generally speaking, those who play in the forward position choose small plates more often.

The larger boards offer more protection, but are less flexible, so defensive players such as fullbacks and backs tend to choose the larger boards.