Anonymous wrote:Studies have shown that kids who wear mini shin guards will apply to colleges that do not accept SAT scores. Similar studies have shown that kids who cut their socks so they wear them over other socks are addicted to social media. A third sturdy has shown that parents of children who wear mini shinguards and let their kids cut their socks in half are likely to drive several hours to stay in mediocre hotels.

Nailed it!

Confirmed

Studies have shown that kids who wear mini shin guards will apply to colleges that do not accept SAT scores. Similar studies have shown that kids who cut their socks so they wear them over other socks are addicted to social media. A third sturdy has shown that parents of children who wear mini shinguards and let their kids cut their socks in half are likely to drive several hours to stay in mediocre hotels.

Anonymous wrote:ECNL daughter has been using the smallest possible for years. Her whole team doesn't wear them at practice. There are games where a girl gets caught without shin guards on and the ref checks all girls. Then 6 of them have to go put them on. I've never played soccer. Do they protect shins or just a nuisance?

Don't want to steer this topic in a different direction but I hate that my kid cuts off the foot part of her socks to wear "soccer socks". That's all the rage too. I never needed non slip socks 30 years ago, playing youth sports.

OMG! Yes the socks! DS does this. I don’t understand why Adidas can’t start making soccer socks with the grippers so we can stop cutting them up.

ECNL daughter has been using the smallest possible for years. Her whole team doesn't wear them at practice. There are games where a girl gets caught without shin guards on and the ref checks all girls. Then 6 of them have to go put them on. I've never played soccer. Do they protect shins or just a nuisance?

Don't want to steer this topic in a different direction but I hate that my kid cuts off the foot part of her socks to wear "soccer socks". That's all the rage too. I never needed non slip socks 30 years ago, playing youth sports.

A friends just bought his son some minis. They are like 3 inches.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my u15 daughter wears the smallest kid size available. They are absurdly small but she has never had a shin injury

Until she does. Lots of people have never died in car accidents or house fires until they do.

Not sure how many fractures they prevent but definitely prevent or lessen a lot of bruises

This is the dumbest trend in all of youth footy.

Mbappe, Haaland, Ronaldo, Lewandowski, Kane, Messi, de Bruyne, etc all wear noticeable and reasonably sized shine guards. The size doesn’t slow them down or make them less effective. Messi probably wears the largest guard of the group, he does just fine with them on.

There is nobody in the professional leagues that switched to mini-guards and had noticeably fast step, better touch, cleaner striking, etc. It’s just a trend, and this trend isn’t particularly new - it comes in generational waves.

I make my DD practice in them if there is contact. Why? 1) prevent injury, even as remote as it may be. 2) practice should resemble competition.

they wear the smallest shin guard and smallest uniforms and the tallest socks.

Anonymous wrote:my u15 daughter wears the smallest kid size available. They are absurdly small but she has never had a shin injury

Until she does. Lots of people have never died in car accidents or house fires until they do.

Because just like ugly things they wear to practice, its about style and fitting in with others.

No one ever gets a boot to the shin and was happy they were wearing a potato chip for a shin pad.

A similar trend in [America] football. Use of knee and thigh pads appears to be the minority among collegiate and professional receivers/defensive backs.

I grew up playing sweeper at a pretty high level. Shin guards were a life saver for slide tackling. Cleats to the shin hurt like hell. I'd rather be stepped on.

That said, you need to tape/secure shin guards in place, so they don't impact your game. Get some tape, sleeves, straps, etc to secure them. If they're impacting your kicking/passing/etc, then they're too low.

I wouldn't go mini for a goalie!! They get it rough, my only red card was against a goalie.

Anonymous wrote:My son is almost 5’10” and wants to shift to smaller shin guards.

He’s the goalie and I’m not thrilled about it. He often gets kicked around a bit in matches and I have to think it’s good for him to have the extra protection.

Exactly our sutaution. Son is a GK. I caved and bought the mini shin guards. I think he is going to regret it but hopefully I am wrong.