Soccer Shin Guards are some of the protective gears a player wears before every competitive game. This ensures some protection for the players during the game, as injuries are bound to happen.
And most times, these injuries happen at the lower body parts of the players, making it necessary to ensure some protection for the shin. Generally, the shin guards are of several types and sizes. There are some which cover the whole shin, while there are others that cover very little.
Regardless, many people have difficulty in getting their shin guards right before a game. In this article, we would help these people know the type of shin guards and how to get taping the shin guards right.
Let’s get started.
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What Kind Of Tape Do You Use For Shin Guards?
The shin guards cannot be held in place on their own, neither can they be held by the socks. This is because a lot of running around makes the shin guards either shift uncomfortably or come off from the player’s legs.
So, there is the need to tape the shin guards effectively to ensure it remains in a spot until the end of the game. There are several kinds of tapes used for the shin guards. It depends on the manufacturer and the material used in making such a product.
Furthermore, the tapes used by soccer players are primarily dependent on the materials and brands they are pretty comfortable with. Here, we will examine some types of tapes available and their advantages.
PVC Socks Tape
This sock is used to tape the shin guard’s top to the socks and the end of the shin guards. Furthermore, this socks tape is often used by soccer players. Generally, PVC Sock Tape is a strong, hard-wearing adhesive tape that comes from Polyvinyl Chloride.
Due to the requirement that your socks tape must be the same color as the socks, it is available in a wide range of colors. An example of a PVC Socks Tape is DE Sports Pre-Wrap. Some features of this type are:
- Insulating tape
This is a high-quality, waterproof PVC Sock Tape, so it can easily last a full match. In addition, this tape is explicitly designed for sport, so it has a greater stretch and more limited recoil than traditional insulated one, helping to prevent tourniquets.
- Shin Guard Tape
Perfect for holding shin pads and shin-guards in place during a football game. A cost-effective alternative to Premier Sock Tape.
Cohesive Sock Wrap
Players use another cut short as grip socks to hold the shin guards. However, it would hold more grip when it has sock wraps holding it tight.
This prevents the foot from moving within the boot, improving the feel of the ball and increasing stability when making quick direction changes.
You can use sock wrap to bridge the gap between the two socks to look like one sock with the same or different colors. This also helps to keep the bottom of the shin guard in place.
The good about this sock wrap is that it can be reused in another game as it has no glue and has a high utility level. An example of a Cohesive Sock Wrap is Premier Sock Tape. Some of the features include:
- Extra stretch
The length is relatively shorter than you need; you have an extra stretch as the material is elastic.
- Multitude of uses
This product has a lot of uses. You can make use of the product for sock wrap, shin wrap, etc.
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Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Zinc Oxide Soccer Tape
Zinc Oxide Football Tape is a non-stretch tape that makes the shin guards immobile throughout the game. You can take the zinc oxide football tape where you have gotten the tightness you would be comfortable with when running and playing the game.
This would ensure that you do not have to worry about your shin guard or sock throughout the game. Though it has strength and can do the job quite well, it is often not used for the shin guards as players wish to feel their shin guards and move their feet every time.
Instead, it is mainly used for the ankle, knee, and shoulders. An example of a Zinc Oxide Soccer Tape is McDavid Zinc Oxide Two Pack 10 -Yard Rolls Athletic Tape. Some of the features are:
- The product helps in protecting and helping reduce the incidence of injury.
- It enhances performance and supports stamina.
- It is made using the highest quality and most innovative technology and materials.
- It has two-pack shrink-wrapped athletic tapes for each leg.
- Our products will provide in protecting and helping reduce the incidence of injury
- Supports your return to activity and enhance performance
- Made using the highest quality and most innovative technology and materials
Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Kinesiology Tape
Kinesiology Tape is a fantastic tape that has medical and physio advantages to its use. It is an elastic tape that enlarges and shrinks with the movement of the legs, also helps the legs remain fit. It tightens and relaxes the legs according to the cramps and movement of the legs.
Because of the multiple advantages it possesses, you can use the kinesiology tape for the shin guard. Instead of just being stiff with no movement aligning with the running and walking of the player, the kinesiology tape acts like it has a mind of its own. So, it is an excellent tape to use.
Another thing is that there are reduced cases of allergies as it is produced to be akin to the human skin. An example of a Kinesiology Tape is Lobtery Kinesiology Tape. Some of the features are:
- Repair quickly
This kinesiology tape can ideally relieve muscle, tibia, knee, and shoulder pain while providing support and correcting joint curvature without hindering your movement.
- Skin-friendly
This kinesiology tape is made of hypoallergenic materials with less glue. This makes it more compliant with the skin, minimizing sensitization and protecting your skin.
- Strong & lasting Adhesive
This tape is made of high-quality materials to provide excellent adhesion and breathability while also having a waterproof function. It can stay on the skin for eight days when used correctly.
- More convenient
This tape roll is more economical and practical than precut muscular tape. You can determine the length of the tape at will, and you don’t have to stick to the precut length.
- Cost-effective
This sports functional tape uses higher quality materials, and the price is also very suitable. It is an excellent choice for soccer players!
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Last update on 2023-11-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How to Tape Soccer Shin Guards?
Shin guards, as we’ve said earlier, cannot stay on their own. So you have to tape them or hold them down with something. Earlier, we have mentioned some types of tapes and their effectiveness in getting the shin guards down without disturbing the players’ comfort.
However, some players lack the necessary skill to tape the shin guard to the shin effectively. Here, we would examine some of the different methods we can use in taping the shin guard to the shin.
Method 1: Below and Above the Shin Guard Taping
You can tape the shin guard to the shin below and above the shin guards taping. This taping involves using the PVC sock tape at the top and end of the shin guard. Of course, you can use other sock tapes to do this also.
How do you do this?
To tape the shin guard this way, you need the shin guards, socks, and some roll of sock tapes. First, wear the socks – whether the long or grip socks and the regular socks. After this, put the shin guard inside the socks.
Ensure you are comfortable with the placement of the shin guard on your shin. Then, take the sock tape, place it around the underside of the shin guard and roll the tape on the location.
Do this until you achieve satisfaction with the firmness. After this is done, repeat the same actions at the top of the shin guard until you are comfortable.
Pros
- Easy methodology
Firstly, it is straightforward to use this method. However, it involves going through repeated practice until you are satisfied with the firmness and grip of the sock tapes on your legs.
- Hands-on Tools
This method does not need a lot of tools to carry it out perfectly. You need your hands, the socks, the tapes, and the shin guards, and you are good to go. In addition, knowing when you are firm and comfortable is very important in this method.
Cons
- Movement and running might loosen the grip
While this method is excellent, motion can loosen the grip of the sock tape as many of them are not elastic enough to take in the movements of the legs fully.
Method 2: Wrap the tape around the shin guard
Another method is wrapping the tape around the shin guard. You wrap one end of the tape at the top of the shin guards, and the other end should be spiral-bound to the bottom of the shin guard.
How do you do this?
You have to get your materials before you start this method; you need your socks, shin guard, and sock wrap. You start by wearing the socks on both of your legs. After this, put the shin guard inside the socks.
Ensure you are comfortable with the placement of the shin guard on your shin. Then you take an end of the sock wrap, place it in the shin guard, and then do a spiral round with the remnant of the sock wrap. Next, wrap the sock wrap around the shin guard until you get to the end of the shin guard.
After this, you tuck in the other end of the sock wrap under the shin guard. Ensure you are satisfied with the firmness of the wrap on the shin guard. Next, run around to test the resoluteness of the sock wrap. When you are satisfied, you can go.
Pros
- Firmness all around the leg
Since you are wrapping the sock around the leg, the firmness is at the top and bottom of the shin guard. This makes you feel more confident about your protection.
- Boost Confidence
The shin guard is there to protect the players from injuries that frequently happen to soccer players. Players often lose their confidence when their shin guards come off too often. They feel exposed to danger and might not give their best to the match, which may affect the game’s result.
However, where your shin guards are firmly tucked in like it is done in this method, you have a boosted confidence as you know your protection is assured to a large extent. This would also improve your game and that of your teammates, generally.
Cons
- Takes time
This method takes quite a lot of time as you would want to ensure that the firmness level throughout the spirals you are making. So while you are trying to ensure you are comfortable all through, you are taking longer time than it would take using the Below and Above the Shin Guard Taping.
Method 3: Taping the Shin guard first
Another way you can go about taping the shin guard is taping the shin guard first. This way allows you to firmly hold the shin guard to you soon before you pull up your socks and tape it again.
How to do this?
To tape the shin guard this way, you need the shin guards, socks, and some roll of sock tapes. First, wear the socks – whether the long or grip socks and the normal socks. After this, put the shin guard inside the socks.
Ensure you are comfortable with the placement of the shin guard on your shin. Make sure the socks are pulled down. Tape the shin guard to your skin. Plus, make sure you are satisfied with how you feel, then pull up the socks.
After this, take the sock tape, tape the skin with the shin guard, and roll the tape around that location in the top, middle and bottom. Do this until you get satisfaction with the firmness. After this is done, repeat the same actions at the top of the shin guard until you are comfortable.
Pro
- The shin guard is firmer
The shin guards are firmer as you are taping the shin guards directly to the skin and then taping the socks also.
Cons
- It might affect blood flow
Since the tape will be used directly on the skin. Additionally, it might affect the blood flow in that location if it is too firm. Plus, it can affect the energy and strength of that leg. Where the blood flow stops, the leg becomes shaky and weak. Take care to ensure that this is not the case.
- Allergies
Some people have allergies to some socks tape products. When they use it directly on their skin, it affects their health and triggers their allergies. Therefore, players have to ensure that they use the tape products they have no allergies to whenever they wish to tape the shin guard this way.
Conclusion
This article refers to the process of taping soccer shin guards. Furthermore, the articles started by identifying the importance of shin guards to soccer and how it protects the players from injuries.
It continues by identifying the essence of socks tapes in ensuring the shin guards perform their function optimally. Then it examines socks tapes and their types.
Plus, it also mentioned some products of these tapes and their features. Lastly, this article listed the methods of taping soccer shin guards to ensure they are firm; then it mentioned the pros and cons of each method.
Hi there, I’m Jay.
Soccer is everything in my life! My friends and I have created this blog with all our enthusiasm, passion, and understanding after years of playing pro soccer. Hope you will enjoy it!