Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It's dumb, but it's a thing. The rules (laws of the game) just say a player must wear shin guards, but it does not specify the size. A lot of pros don't wear shin guards, except for games. And when they do wear them, they are small or even comically small.
"Reasonable Protection" is still decided upon by ref for safety... but spineless refs believe the futile interpretations of others nowhere written in the rule.
Player is responsible to choose to wear shinguards that comply within Law 4... (size + comfort/suitability)
Ref is still responsible as always for safety which is determined by "reasonableness"... + suitable material
note: suitability and suitable material are 2 completely different tenets of rule.
appropriate size is not the same as size... appropriate size goes with "reasonable protection" while "size" goes with player responsibility to choose for their size... which may or may not be an appropriate size. Players who select based upon fashion statements are the least likely to choose appropriate sized gear which offers reasonable protection.
reasonable safety is determined by ref.
Anonymous wrote:When is the last time you saw a broken shin bone? go back to baseball. Shinguards are pointless, players want total feel for the ball no matter what part of their leg or body it touches, shinguards do not prevent injuries, and more of a nuisance to players who actually want to have control of the ball.
I have spoken
Anonymous wrote:It's dumb, but it's a thing. The rules (laws of the game) just say a player must wear shin guards, but it does not specify the size. A lot of pros don't wear shin guards, except for games. And when they do wear them, they are small or even comically small.
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.
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.