I can’t believe how many years it’s been since my kids were brand-new youth soccer players. My oldest still loves the sport, but those early seasons were something else. Like a lot of Florida kids, he absolutely hated wearing socks.
When he first started playing, getting him into his long soccer socks and shin guards felt like a full wrestling match before every game. I explained that shin guards were there to protect his legs because sometimes kids miss the ball and kick each other instead. (Honestly, “sometimes” is generous.)
After his very first game, I proudly posted a photo online for friends and family. That’s when one of my cousins called me laughing and told me my son was wearing his soccer socks and shin guards completely wrong.
I was a first-time soccer mom. Nobody had explained how any of the gear was supposed to work, and it never even occurred to me to ask.
So yes…we learned how to put on shin guards the hard way.
If you’re a busy new soccer parent and wondering whether soccer socks go over or under shin guards, here’s the quick answer.
For most youth soccer players, soccer socks go over shin guards. Shin guards sit against the leg (or over a sleeve) and the soccer sock is pulled over them to keep them in place.
- Shin guards go against the leg or over a thin sleeve
- Soccer socks go over the shin guards
- The top of the sock is often folded over the guard to hold it in place
Some shin guard styles (like sock-style guards) work differently, but this is the standard way most leagues expect players to wear them.
The mistake most first-time soccer parents make
- shin guards too low
- not secured so they slide around during play
- shin guards flying out of socks
- sleeves on shin guard socks worn incorrectly
If you are a first-time soccer parent, figuring out shin guards, sleeves, and socks can feel oddly complicated the first few games.
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Do Soccer Socks Go Over or Under Shin Guards?
Soccer socks go over shin guards. Players place the shin guards directly on the leg or over a thin sleeve first, then pull the soccer socks up over the guards. Many players fold the top of the sock over the shin guard to help keep it secure during the game.
Then, a friend of mine messaged me asking how to put them on her kid. She played soccer in high school but also couldn’t remember. She was not the only person to text me asking how to put those darn things on her kids over the years. So I finally decided to actually write this “how kids should wear their soccer socks and shin guards” guide and share some of our experiences with the different types of shin guards.
First, let me emphasize that shin guards are a MUST-HAVE for youth soccer. These kids kick each other in the shins constantly. No joke. Some kids think it’s the worst part of the sport and others (like my crazy son) think it’s the best.
How to Put Shin Guards on Kids (Step-by-Step)
Start by placing the shin guard directly against your child’s leg and pulling the soccer sock up over it. This is the standard way most players wear shin guards.
If your young child immediately starts flipping out because the guard feels uncomfortable, scratchy, or like “a hundred bug bites” (all things my kids said the first time), try this alternative approach.
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First, put the long soccer socks on and pull them all the way up. Most youth soccer socks are long enough to reach well above the shin.
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Then place the shin guards over the socks. Make sure the guard is centered on the shin and that any ankle padding is positioned correctly.
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Finally, fold the top of the soccer sock down over the shin guard to help hold it in place.
So to answer the question many new soccer parents ask: shin guards are worn against the leg, but the socks go over them to keep everything secure. Depending on the type of shin guard and your child’s comfort level, you may put the guard directly on the leg or over the sock before folding the sock down to hold everything in place.
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How to Choose the Right Shin Guards for Kids
I didn’t even know there were different kinds of shin guards for kids. My son (and later my daughter when she also started playing soccer) preferred different styles of shin guards at different ages.
- Show your new soccer player videos or photos of kids wearing shin guards so they know what to expect.
- Remember that one size fits all doesn’t always work for kids! My youngest has always been smaller than 99% of kids her age.
Types of Soccer Shin Guards for Kids
- Slip-in shin guards
- Shin guards with ankle protection
- Shin guard sleeves
- Shin guard socks
In that first season, we must have tried every variation we could find. Pork Chop hated his shin guards that season. I bought him softer shin guards that had a stirrup for ankle protectionBROTOU Shin Guards Soccer Youth, Soccer Shin Guards for Kids 3-15, Light Weight.... Guys, he limped around the field like his legs were taking turns being broken. It was the most pitiful sight. (He was barely four at the time.) This type of shin guard is strapped on over soccer socks.
- Skin Fit Shin Guards: The outer layer of our soccer shin guards is made of high strength...
- Upgrated Designed Shin Protector: Compared to the traditional one, BROTOU soccer shin pads...
- Ergonomically Designed Shin Guards: The curved design of BROTOU shin guards not only fit...
These were easy to slip on over his soccer socks.This is a good option for most kids. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for my child. He scratched at his ankles and cried.
Ultimately, I got him shin guard socks. These are soccer socks with an inner pocket and hard plastic inserts.
- Soccer sock guard for training or playing
- Integrated shield for secure and fixed protection without straps
- Removable shield for easy washing
We had a winner. He wore these things for the first four seasons he played! Plus it solved the question of whether shin guards go over or under socks. It’s one piece. You can’t make it any easier.
So yeah, I definitely recommend shin socks for the little players. We call these toddler shinguards because they are the easiest to put on toddlers without a fight! However, if you’ve already bought the soft stirrup version or the regular velcro and hard plastic version, here is how you put them on.
Related: 5 Soccer Mom Must Haves
Common Mistakes New Soccer Parents Make
- Putting shin guards over socks
- Buying guards that are too large
- Socks that slide down during play
- Letting your kid convince you that the teeny tiny trendy shin guards is protection enough.
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How Should Shin Guards Fit on Kids?
The shin guard should cover the middle of the shin bone and stay in place while your child runs. It shouldn’t slide down or leave the shin exposed. Most youth leagues expect shin guards to extend from just above the ankle to a few inches below the knee.
FAQs for How to Put on Shin Guards
Which goes on first, shin guards or socks?
This one is tough. I really think it depends on the type of shin guard. The hard plastic shin guards often used for younger players tend to be very uncomfortable for little kids. But as they get older, shin guards get smaller and there are now many “soft guards that get hard on impact” versions out there. For older kids shin guards go on first! Then the socks go over to hold them in place. If the shin guards come with sleeves, the little sleeves go over the shin guard to hold it in place.
Do shin guards go under or over the pants?
Under! They should go right against the skin or over thin compression sleeves. Then socks go on top to keep everything snug.
How do I know if they’re on right?
The guard should cover the middle of the shin, not slide around, and not pinch. If your kid forgets it’s even there, nailed it!
Are you a new soccer mom? Is anything confusing you? I’d love to help. Leave me a comment or email me!
More Soccer Mom Resources:
- Tips for New Soccer Moms
- Top Soccer Mom Essentials
- 30 Sports Night Dinner Ideas
- 5 Soccer Mom Must Haves
Rachel says
Where can I find soccer socks long enough to fold over the shin guards? All the ones I find only come up to the knee.
Herchel Scruggs says
We have a wegotsoccer.com store here and I have seen longer socks at Academy Sports or soccer.com!
Michelle says
So I got my son the shin guards that have the sleeves with it so I put the sleeves on nd then the shin guards and then the socks and the shin guards and the sleeves left a impression on his leg so idk if I done it right or wrong or he needs a size medium his first game is this Saturday
Herchel Scruggs says
No shin guards sleeves then socks if they are the type with the sleeves.
Athletic Lift says
Ok, I’m dumbfounded. I thought it was always worn on a bare leg?! Then again, now that I’m thinking about it, it would totally chafe a player’s skin with all their movement.
Christina Yates says
You don’t know how relieved I am to realize I’m not the only first-time soccer mom who didn’t automatically know all the dress code rule, though my kidlet is 9 and beginning her soccer career in U11; she’s played “back yard soccer” since she started walking, but this is her first year playing on a team. I knew shin guards were required–and with my kidlet’s predisposition to being accident prone, even if it was just “suggested”, she’d be wearing them–but totally thought HOW they were worn (under / over the socks) was purely a matter of preference until her first practice when the coach told her she needed to wear long socks over the shin guards. Oops!
Herchel says
Lol! You wouldn’t believe how many people Google how to wear them each spring and fall! I wish my kids’ coach had told me before I plastered my son’s photo on Facebook!
Nova says
You are good.
Vicki says
What brand/style of shin guards you like the best?
Herchel says
My favorite brand and style were whichever ones he’d wear without fussing! It changed as he got older. Now he is old enough to know that they are for safety but when he was a little guy, it would be whichever style would stay on. For the first few seasons, the soccer shinguard socks (where the shin guard was a part of the sock) were the best for us.
Jessica says
I came across this after googling about wearing shin guards, as at my son’s first soccer practice this week he was the only kid with shin guards on the outside of his socks. I’m glad I wasn’t the only one who has done this. And now back to the store I go to get some soccer socks.
Herchel says
Lol no you aren’t the only one.
Hotspot says
Thank you for this!
idreamleaguesoccerkits.com says
very informative article. BUt will you please write one more article from where i can buy best chin guards?
Lenaya says
I was totally feeling lame, but I had to Google, “how do you wear shin gaurds?” Luckily I found your post and it was perfectly what I needed to know 😀
Thanks!
Herchel says
Don’t feel lame! You looked it up instead of putting them on your child incorrectly 🙂
J. Ivy Boyter says
Thank you for this! S starts soccer on Saturday. Because I’ve never been athletically inclined, I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how any of this works. At least I can go out there now and pretend I do 🙂