How to Wear Hockey Shin Pads

Anyone who's ever had a kid play youth hockey knows that getting dressed in hockey equipment is a tedious process. Because they're usually buried beneath and behind a slew of other equipment, shin pads are often the first piece of hardware a player straps on. As such, putting them on and wearing them correctly is a must.

Things You'll Need

  • Shin pad tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Make sure your shin pads are properly sized. Hockey shin pads should reach from the knee to the top edge of your skate boot.

    • 2

      With your leg extended outward, place the shin pad over the front of the shin, with the flex joint for the knee guard sitting just below the kneecap. Make sure all straps are hanging to the sides.

    • 3

      Pull the straps behind the leg and connect them. Most youth hockey gear will have simple velcro straps, while older players will usually find clasps or buttons on their gear.

    • 4

      Tighten the straps just enough to keep the shin pad from sliding up or down the knee. There should be some leeway around the sides to allow for muscle contraction and blood circulation.

    • 5

      Pull your hockey socks up over your feet and legs. Make sure each shin pad does not slide to the side of the leg and remains centered on the front of the shin.

    • 6

      Pull your hockey pants up over the legs and secure them around the waist with an elastic band or suspenders.

    • 7

      Put on your skates and lace them up. The bottom lip of the shin guard should rest just inside the tongue of the skate boot.

    • 8

      Take shin guard tape and wrap it around the calf on the outside of the sock to further secure the shin guard. Wrap one piece of tape snugly around the top of the shin guard just below the knee, and another piece around the top of the boot and the bottom of the shin guard. Some companies offer shin guard tape, but most players will employ the same grip tape they use for their sticks.