Image Source: Krave Antiques
You might think shin pads were invented in 1950-something, but they’ve actually been around longer than soccer itself.
Before shin pads were used in footy (or any sport), they served as battle armor pieces for ancient Greek and Roman soldiers. Think King Leonidas (played by Gerard Butler) in “300” slashing his way through hordes of enemies in knee-high “shin shields”.
It wasn’t until modern times that shin guards became essential protective gear for soccer players. We’ll spare you the ancient history of shin pads, but here’s a timeline of its existence in modern sport.
Early 1800s: The Birth of Shin Pads for Sport
In the early 1800s, cricket players wore shin pads first, not soccer players. Go figure—you’d think athletes KICKING a ball would be the trailblazers here. But it was the cricketeers who started it, wearing bulky, cane-ribbed pads to protect the batsmen’s legs from the pitcher’s high-speed bowl. Of course, cricket players still wear them today.
1874: The Year Shin Pads Made their Soccer Debut
Towards the latter 19th century, soccer shin pads arrived. Sam Weller Widdowson, a Scottish cricket and soccer player, brought them into footy. The year was 1874. Concerned about sustaining leg injuries while playing soccer, Widdowson chopped a pair of cricket pads and fastened them to his stockings for a game.
Perhaps playing both sports gave him perspective on injury risks, helping him realize that soccer players needed shin protection too. This was the first recorded use of shin pads in soccer although they were a makeshift invention at that point. Soon after, Widdowson would begin producing and marketing actual shin pads with his co-founder, Richard Draft.
1882-1884s: Shin Pads Become a Marketable Soccer Product
There aren’t many photos to show the blossoming popularity of shin pads, but in 1882, they had clearly caught on. An ad from sporting goods company, Peck & Snyder, featured the first known mention of shin pads for sale, in a Wright & Ditson publication discussing football rules of the time.
Image Source: Antique Football
In 1884, both Peck & Synder and Wright & Ditson were advertising soccer shin guards imported from English distributors to Americans. The pads featured a buff or chamois leather construction with cane reed inserts and elastic straps, and an ankle protector. They weren’t as sleek as today’s options, but they’re the grandfather of today’s shin protection.
1890s: Shin Pads Start Spreading
Although not yet a staple, more players began wearing shin pads on the pitch. In 1893, A.G. Spalding released a shin guard using what they considered an “improved pattern”, a leather offering with a price tag of $1.50.
Image Source: Antique Football
Keep in mind that shin pads, up to this point, hadn’t been upgraded much from their initial design. They were rigid, bulky, and uncomfortable. And some, especially those containing suede, were prone to water damage. Imagine using non-waterproof shin gear in the often damp weather of England. Yikes.
Early 1900s: The Shin Pad Revolution
In the early 20th century, something happened though—padding materials entered a rennaisance. Improvements in cotton and foam production allowed manufacturers to create shin guards with better shock absorption and comfort for players.
And the base design of shin guards began to shift as well. Passing and running off the ball became crucial skills, so players needed more flexible and lightweight options. Manufacturers started removing ankle protection in shin pads, so that players could move with less restriction.
The 1930s: A Great Selection
Shin pad designs continued to get more intuitive as the years passed. In the 1930s, players were starting to wear shin guards under their socks. The new pads had laces instead of buckles to keep them secure, a solution to chafing which was a widespread complaint for players at the time. Soccer socks had improved too—snug-fitting synthetic socks were replacing wool ones, eliminating the need for shin pads to come with straps.
Mid-20th Century: Shin Guards
In the middle of the 20th-century, shin pads got some major upgrades. Fiberglass and plastic moulding made them sturdier yet more flexible and lightweight. They were more durable too, which served as a protection since players were getting bigger, stronger and faster.
Records are a bit shaky, but many believe that Adidas was the first company to sell branded shin pads (in the 1950s), under the name “Adidas Fußball-Schienbeinschützer”. Don’t ask us how to pronounce that.
The introduction of Adidas’ shin guard line opened the market for other sports apparel companies to launch their own shin pads.
The 1970s: Shin Pads Gain an Even Stronger Foothold
During the disco era, shin pads continued to get funky, but in a good way. The outer materials of the guards got even stronger and more protective, thanks to manufacturers adding foam and gel cushioning. The 70s reigned in much of the modern features seen in today’s shin guards.
Image Source: The Sun
Surprisingly, there was still a swarm of professional and amateur players who didn’t wear or care for shin pads. But at the 1970 World Cup, the late Brazilian giant himself, Pele, was tackled by Italian defender Luigi Riva, which left him with deep gash on his shin.
He ultimately needed stitches to seal the wound. This was a pivotal moment that raised awareness about shin injury risk and the need for protection.
The 1980s-90s: Shin Pads Become a Household Item
A century after shin pads were introduced into the beautiful game, manufacturers were still making them better. They started using composite designs, combining rigid plastics and soft materials. The focus became giving players the perfect blend of comfort and protection. During this time they began adding velcro so players could secure the pads more easily.
Towards the mid and late 90s, materials in the shin pads got even hardier. We’re talking EVA, polypropylene, and carbon fiber-based materials. They are all heavy-duty options, which offer impact protection that their predecessors lacked. And best of all, players felt unrestricted in them because these materials felt light.
21st Century: Shin Pads Become More Diverse
The 2000s rolled in and shin pads evolved. Not so much in the sense that manufacturers were reinventing them, but instead revamping them for superior protection and comfort.
With that said, the tech behind new-age shin pads is leagues beyond what was used before. Smart materials like reactive/auxetic foam—soft and flexible that hardens upon impact to act as a shield—hit the market. A notable example is G-Form, a U.S.-based manufacturer.
There were also polymers like RHEON™ and Poron XRD, that were also “smart” materials. In the late 2000s, Nike launched the first-ever carbon fiber shin pads, a gamechanger that became a staple for amateur and pro soccer players into the 2010s.
Now that we’re in the 2020s, the shin pad market continues to grow. In 2022, the global soccer shin guard market was valued at an estimated $242.38 million USD, and expected to reach $329.94 by 2028.
Among the big players are household names—Nike, Adidas, Uhlsport, Puma and more. We too put our footprint in the market by launching our premier Exoshield shin pad line for kids and adults.
The Long Journey
For those of you who dislike the feel of shin pads now, imagine what your football forefathers had to wear. Imagine wearing and running in heavy leather “boxes”, especially on hot or wet days. They’re a farcry from today’s lightweight, ultra-strength shin pads that yesterday’s manufacturers could only have dreamt of making.
Cherish them. Embrace them. They’re there to keep you off the bench in both the short and long run.
Of course, choosing the right shin pads can trip up soccer players (and parents). That’s why we’ve created guides on how to choose shin pads, size them, and wear them correctly. Make sure to check them out. Wearing the best shin protection possible is a guaranteed way to bring your risk of lower leg injuries to the absolute minimum.
