Why are some football shin pads so small?

Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas made his full Premier League debut against Manchester City on Sunday.

While doing so, he sported some very low socks over what appeared to be a very small shin pad.

Last season, images of Burnley’s Marcus Edwards went viral after the 27-year-old was seen wearing barely visible shin pads during a Premier League match against West Ham.

Two years ago, a picture of teenager Harry Howell celebrating with James Milner while they were Brighton team-mates also gained attention after fans noticed the visible difference in the size of their shin pads.

Howell’s ‘micro’ pair were an obvious contrast to Milner’s far more traditional-sized guards.

So what is behind the trend of extra-small shin guards, and why are they used instead of regular-sized pairs?

The simple answer is that players can choose what size shin pads they want to wear.

The International Football Association Board (Ifab), responsible for the laws of the game, say that shin pads are a mandatory piece of equipment players must wear while playing.

Law 4.2 states that shin pads must:

• Be made of a suitable material

• Be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks

• And players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shin pads

The law does not define what an “appropriate” shin pad size is, but leave that decision to each individual player.

Shin pads provide vital protection for players to prevent serious injuries.

There has been a rising trend in younger footballers, as well as some big stars, wearing small shin pads during matches.

The reason for this could be for more comfort and to allow players to move around with greater ease.

Referees are only required to check that some form of shin guards are being worn, Ifab told BBC Sport.

Ifab said players – or the parents or guardians of youth players – must take responsibility for their own safety on the pitch.

While shin pad size is ultimately an individuals choice, any decisions around player safety would also be made in consultation with their club and medical staff.

Have small shin pads been banned?

Grassroots football teams have started to ban small shin pads for safety reasons.

There are concerns that small shin pads do not cover the shins properly, which can lead to an increased risk of injury – especially at non-elite level.

In August 2024, a football club banned small shin pads after a youth player suffered a double leg break.

Penistone Church player Alfie Collins broke his tibia and fibula in a tackle during a game. The teenager’s shin pads, which were no bigger than a credit card, were similar to a size recently worn by some stars of the professional game.

Shin pads “play an important role in injury prevention as they are intended to protect the shin from injury”, the Football Association said.

“‘Micro’ or ‘mini’ shin pads may therefore increase the risk of injury due to the smaller amount of shin covered compared to larger sized shin pads,” they added.

This article is the latest from BBC Sport’s Ask Me Anything team. This is a question by Jonathan in Colchester.

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