[Football] Shinpads

[CheeseRolls]

Seems like a good time to raise this one. Having seem Hinshelwood lose his postage stamp sized shinpad a few weeks ago. Every time I see a player rolling around in agony on the floor now, I ask myself " Was that really a bad challenge?" Calvert Lewin last night seemed to glance the shin of that Croydon goon, surely a decent shin pad would have deflected that? I am all for letting skilful players express themselves, but how much of an incumeberence are a half decent pair of shin pads?

Here's a poll.

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I guess very few of the injuries we see are actual impact ones. Most are muscular strains or joint injuries, therefore presumably they reckon they'll take their chances with their micro-pads.

Now the Graeme Sounesses of this world are all retired, it's probably a safer place.

 

[Bozza]

"Big on protection..."

 

[GJN1]

Seems like a good time to raise this one. Having seem Hinshelwood lose his postage stamp sized shinpad a few weeks ago.

Here's a poll.

I think they were more prawn cracker than postage stamp.

 

[rippleman]

Came to my mind too. It is down to the players to protect themselves. It is somewhat inevitable that players will suffer more injuries, and more serious injuries, if they insist in using shinpads the size of a credit card and boots with the sturdiness and resiliance of a carpet slipper.

 

[Bry Nylon]

Pro players, I suppose, can do what they like. After all, it's their career and they (and their club) are the ones that will have to do battle with insurance companies surrounding contributory negligence if they get their shin snapped wearing a pair of those pointless affectations, designed to do nothing more than get round a rule that is there for their protection.

For me, the problem comes when junior players start copying them, as they will and already are. I don't let kids train or play wearing those and frankly I'm amazed that parents are dumb enough to let their kids turn up with them. Straight in the bin.

 

[CheeseRolls]

I guess very few of the injuries we see are actual impact ones. Most are muscular strains or joint injuries, therefore presumably they reckon they'll take their chances with their micro-pads.

Now the Graeme Sounesses of this world are all retired, it's probably a safer place.

Aside from injuries there is an awful lot of rolling around on the floor after contact. Give it a couple of minutes and off they run. The number of full blooded challenges seems to have decreased significantly, which is probably a good thing, but there is still a lot of players getting hurt, when maybe they could be doing more to protect their shins and ankles.

 

[Si Gull]

Can't really understand the micro shin pads, is it just a 'trend'? I'm convinced that my shin/ankle pads have protected me from many an injury over the years. I don't even notice they are there and would never play a competitive game without them.

 

[Algernon]

When I was a lad aged around 12-13 I was having a kickabout with my mates and some "bigger boys" probably 16-17 years old came and joined in.
One of them "Sean Lammin" went heavy into a challenge with me and contact was made with my right shin. I have broken a few bones but this pain was excruciating. I just about hobbled home.

For over 10 years, if I brushed that part of my shin against anything solid, e.g as I did multiple times against the bed frame rail as I was making it then it would hurt so much I'd have to sit down and have a little cry.
Wear shinpads.
Wear decent sized shinpads.


Yeah I know I shouldn't keep bleating on about it.

 

[Neil]

shinpads should cover the whole shin not just a 2" square part.
Just a thought , if I turned up to play in old style leather boots with proper studs , would I be allowed.
Or can you only play the game in slippers now?

 

[Bry Nylon]

"Hello? Is that Norwich Union? I'm calling about my claim for my broken fibia."

"Oh yes. We're just assessing it. Can you send a life-size picture of the shin guards you were wearing? We've only got a thumbnail."

"That is a life-sized picture."

 

[studio150]

There should really be minimum dimensions for shin pads to outlaw these micro shinpads.

I would go further and ensure that all socks are pulled up to at least just below knee level. Failure to do so would be a yellow card.

 

[MJsGhost]

there is an awful lot of rolling around on the floor after contact. Give it a couple of minutes and off they run.

Do you think this has anything at all to do with the size of shinpad?

 

[Fignon's Ponytail]

After seeing a friend on a rival team get his shin sliced open from knee to ankle after a collision with the goalie back in the mid '80s, I always made sure I wore decent sized pads, then the ones with built in ankle protectors when I got older. Never found them intrusive or a hindrance when running.
I dont remember much these days, but the sight of our manager carrying the lad, screaming his head off, while the oppo manager held the skin on his leg together to stem the bleeding, has stuck in my mind forever - and was more than enough to convince me pads should be as big and protective as possible. The ones being advertised on the net now (like those above) are just ridiculous & utterly pointless if you ask me.

 

[American Seagle]

I would guess we may see more long term damage to players this in the future due to the smaller pads. I doubt it will be caused by one challenge or one knock but instead a series of knocks...a more chronic type injury.
I would hand the issue over to medical teams who know the effects and know the science. If they are happy, I am happy. I would say the same thing about concussion protocols as well.

 

[beorhthelm]

i dont understand why players want to avoid the protection of shinpads. what advantage other than fashion do they gain from these micro pads?

 

[American Seagle]

Do you think this has anything at all to do with the size of shinpad?

Probably spends that time rolling around trying to find it?

 

[Jack Straw]

In my "Jumpers for goalposts" level matches, some players don't wear shin-pads, probably because of macho vanity. Minor collisions to them result in all sorts of cuts and bruises which shin-pads would have prevented. I don't know how many times I've said to people, "Ask Father Christmas to bring you some shin-pads!"
I forgot to take mine with me to one match and at the end of the game, my legs were cut to ribbons. I've never forgotten them since.

 

[Algernon]

After seeing a friend on a rival team get his shin sliced open from knee to ankle after a collision with the goalie

I recall a rather gruesome picture on here.
One of NSC tried to step into a cab, his foot slipped off the sill and blimey he did himself some real damage.
If he'd been wearing shinpads on his night out then it might not have happened..

 

[crodonilson]

When I was a lad aged around 12-13 I was having a kickabout with my mates and some "bigger boys" probably 16-17 years old came and joined in.
One of them "Sean Lammin" went heavy into a challenge with me and contact was made with my right shin. I have broken a few bones but this pain was excruciating. I just about hobbled home.

For over 10 years, if I brushed that part of my shin against anything solid, e.g as I did multiple times against the bed frame rail as I was making it then it would hurt so much I'd have to sit down and have a little cry.
Wear shinpads.
Wear decent sized shinpads.


Yeah I know I shouldn't keep bleating on about it.

Was Lammin booked or sent off??

Of course the answer is safety and welfare should be of paramount importance. ALL players should be forced to wear shinpads and ankle protectors, any not adhering should be given a significant fine and hefty ban.