Why are some football shin pads so small?

What the report says

BBC Sport Football reported that the recent sight of Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas wearing very small shin pads in his full Premier League debut against Manchester City has renewed attention on a wider trend in the game. The article also pointed to earlier examples, including Burnley’s Marcus Edwards and Brighton youngster Harry Howell, whose much smaller guards were noticed by fans.

According to the report, football’s rules require shin pads to be worn, but the International Football Association Board leaves players to decide the size, so long as the equipment is made from suitable material, offers reasonable protection and is covered by the socks. Referees are said to check only that shin protection is present, rather than policing a specific size.

BBC Sport said the appeal of smaller shin pads may be linked to comfort and freedom of movement, and that the trend has become more visible among younger players as well as some established professionals. The article noted, however, that safety concerns remain, especially outside elite football, where clubs and governing bodies have warned that very small guards may leave too much of the shin exposed.

The piece added general context from the Football Association that “micro” or “mini” shin pads could increase injury risk, and cited a grassroots example in which a club tightened its stance after a youth player suffered a serious leg break.