Ankle Protector Football Shinpads
Shinpads are essential piece of kit for footballers of any level. Playing football at junior level, children's shinpads are usually considered a safety requirement and ankle protector shinpads feature the added safety of an ankle guard. Ankle guards provide added support that will help avoid incidents where the ankle is turned or slips. They will also protect from the shock impact of a tackling player.
Children's shinpads are available from major sport brands like Nike and adidas and shinpads branded with professional football teams are a popular choice.
Ankle guards tend to be made from material rather than the fibreglass or plastic that is more commonly found in shinpad construction. Ankle guards generally have the appearance and fit of a sock, sitting between the ball of the foot and the shin. Many ankle guards are threaded or woven with scales or hardened material such as plastic, fibreglass, or metal. Ankle guards can be purchased separately and fitted to shinpads , or come already attached to shinpads.
Shinpads are available in a range of sizes, depending on a player's preference, with some shinpads sitting halfway up the ankle and others sitting closer to the knee. Shinpads can be made from a range of materials.
Fibreglass is a common component of many modern shinpads. Fibreglass is stiff, durable, and lightweight. Fibreglass will provide a higher degree of protection than other materials such as plastic and foam.
Foam rubber is very lightweight, although the lightness comes at the cost of durability and robustness. Although less sturdy than fibreglass, modern foam shinpads will provide more than adequate ankle and shin protection.
Polyurethane is a heavy and sturdy synthetic material. Polyurethane offers almost complete protection from most impacts.
Plastic is cheaper than many other synthetics, however it is generally less sturdy. Plastic shinpads are good for entry-level footballers.
