Shin guard
A shin guard or shin pad is a piece of equipment worn on the front of a player’s shin to protect them from injury. These are commonly used in sports including association football (soccer), baseball, ice hockey, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby, cricket, and other sports. This is due to either being required by the rules/laws of the sport or worn voluntarily by the participants for protective measures.
Materials
Modern day shin guards are made of many differing synthetic materials, including, but not limited to:
Fiberglass - Stiff, sturdy, and light weight.
Foam rubber - Very light weight, but not as sturdy and solid as fiberglass.
Polyurethane - Heavy and sturdy, which offers almost complete protection from most impacts.
Plastic - Less protective than any of the other synthetic shin guards.
Metal - Highly protective, but very heavy and uncomfortable.
History
The shin guard was inspired by the concept of a greave. A greave is a piece of armor used to protect the shin. It is a Middle English term, derived from an Old French word, greve (pronounced gri’v), meaning shin or shin armor. The etymology of this word not only describes the use and purpose of shin guards, but also contributes to dating the technology.