Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas made his full Premier League debut against Manchester City on Sunday, and it was not only his performance that drew attention. The young forward took to the pitch with his socks pulled very low over what appeared to be a very small shin pad, the latest example of a look that has become increasingly familiar in the professional game.
It is a trend with a growing highlight reel. Last season, images of Burnley’s Marcus Edwards went viral after the 27-year-old was seen wearing barely visible shin pads during a Premier League match against West Ham. Two years ago, a picture of teenager Harry Howell celebrating with James Milner while the pair were Brighton team-mates also gained attention, after fans noticed the stark difference in the size of their guards — Howell’s ‘micro’ pair an obvious contrast to Milner’s far more traditional-sized protection.
So why do so many players opt for the smallest possible option? The simple answer is that they are free to choose. The International Football Association Board (Ifab), which is responsible for the laws of the game, states that shin pads are a mandatory piece of equipment players must wear while playing. Under Law 4.2, they must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection, and they must be covered by the socks. Players themselves are responsible for the size and suitability of what they wear.
Crucially, the law does not define what an “appropriate” size actually is, leaving that judgement to each individual. Referees, Ifab told BBC Sport, are only required to check that some form of shin guard is being worn. Ifab added that players — or the parents and guardians of youth players — must take responsibility for their own safety on the pitch, while noting that any decisions around player safety would also be made in consultation with a club and its medical staff.
Shin pads exist to provide vital protection and help prevent serious injuries, and the appeal of the miniature versions is understood to be a matter of comfort and freedom of movement. That trade-off has helped the trend spread among younger footballers as well as some big names in the senior game.
The issue has become more contentious further down the pyramid, where grassroots teams have started banning small shin pads for safety reasons. There are concerns that small guards do not cover the shins properly, increasing the risk of injury — particularly at non-elite level. In August 2024, a football club banned small shin pads after a youth player suffered a double leg break. Penistone Church player Alfie Collins broke his tibia and fibula in a tackle during a game, and his shin pads, which were no bigger than a credit card, were similar in size to those recently worn by some stars of the professional game.
The Football Association has made its own position clear, saying shin pads “play an important role in injury prevention as they are intended to protect the shin from injury”. It added that “‘Micro’ or ‘mini’ shin pads may therefore increase the risk of injury due to the smaller amount of shin covered compared to larger sized shin pads”. For now, though, the choice remains with the player.