How to Wear Hockey Shin Guards

Wearing protective shin guards in hockey is essential for any player who wants to keep his lower legs free of injury. A hockey puck is made of vulcanized rubber, a hard substance that can be shot at speeds approaching 100 miles per hour. Players regularly try to block shots with their shins, so their shin guards must be strong, effective and light.

Things You'll Need

  • Shin guards
  • Tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place the center cap of the shin guard over your kneecap. This must be a precise fit. Your knee needs to be able to move freely yet also be protected. The hard plastic shell should fit right over the top of your kneecap.

    • 2

      Place the shin guard over the long bone in your lower leg. Stopping a hard shot is one thing, but even a relatively soft pass can cause significant pain and injury if the shin guard is not in place. Have the plastic guard sit right on your shin.

    • 3

      Snap the shin guard into place. There will likely be two straps on your shin guard to keep it in place. One strap will be about 1 1/2 inches below the knee and the second strap will be three inches below that. Make them a protective fit. You don't want the guard to slide around but you don't want to cut off circulation, either.

    • 4

      Use tape to make sure the knee guard stays in place. There is no snap near the knee guard. You will have to use tape to keep it in place.

    • 5

      Pull your socks up over your shin guards. Hockey socks are long and relatively form-fitting, so pulling up your socks will help you keep your shin guards in place.