The Right Type of Shin Guard for You

Ah Shin Guards… you either love them or hate them as a soccer player. They seem like God’s gift to you when you are cleated in the shin, but otherwise they are those annoying little pieces of plastic that you are repeatedly pulling up throughout the game. There are numerous different types of shin guards out there, and I am here to tell you about my experiences with two types I have worn in the past years: strapless and detachable shin guards with ankle protectors.

Nike Mercurial Blade Shin Guards

Currently I wear what I would describe as strapless shin guards because they are the ones that you just slide into place under your socks. The exact style of shin guards that I wear is the Mercurial Blade by Nike. One aspect about these shin guards that I really like is that they are easy to put on, then take off, and you don’t have to mess around with numerous Velcro straps. But, my big dilemma with these strapless shin guards is that they fall down your shins too easily and bring your socks right along with them. To prevent that problem, many of my teammates put tape around their calves to hold the shin guard in place, but I don’t really like that solution because the tight tape around my legs is uncomfortable for me. This style of shin guards seems to be all the rage in the soccer community and you can see many professional players who wear them.

Adidas Shin Guards with Ankle Protectors

Before I wore the strapless shin guards, I wore the detachable shin guards. These shin guards are like a plain shin guard with one Velcro strap on top, and then an attachable ankle guard that connects to the shin guard with Velcro and then is secured by a second strap of Velcro that went around your leg. These shin guards that I wore were by far my most favorite during my many years spent playing and they were created by Adidas, but have since been discontinued within the past few years. I would have never gotten rid of them, but they were falling apart since I had worn them for 4+ years. I really like the detachable aspect of these shin guards because it was easy to remove the main part of the shin guard when you wanted to roll down your socks after a game. Also I personally really like having an ankle guard on because it seems that I get kicked in the ankle more often than I do in the shin. If you are able to find a set of shin guards that have this detachable aspect, I would highly recommend buying them because with my past experiences they have seemed to work the best.

 When purchasing shin guards there are a few aspects that you need to take into consideration to make sure you are getting what’s best for you. First off is size. When trying to decide which ones fit best, I don’t really pay attention to the measurement provided on the back, I just quickly try them on. Most shin guards come in cases that are closed by zippers, so it is really easy to just open them up and quickly try them on. Just on a personal note: MAKE SURE YOU GET A SIZE THAT COVERS A MAJORITY OF YOUR SHIN. My biggest pet peeve as a player is when my teammates complain about all these bruises they have on their shins and the reason why is because they are wearing a xtra-small size shin guard that only covers 1/3 of their shin. Also if you are looking at buying shin guards that come with the ankle protector but you want the detachable kind, make sure that is an option because many ankle protectors today are permanently attached to the shin guard.

           Deciding which type of shin guard best suits you as a player ultimately comes down to your own personal preference. I sometimes feel like I am in the minority of those who don’t really like the strapless shin guards without ankle protectors, but that’s just me. Experiment with many different types until you’ve seen all their pros and cons to make your final decision on which one you like best. Also note that shin guards don’t have to have a fancy design on them because they are covered by your socks anyways. So get what’s most comfortable for you not the ones that have the coolest design or are the most popular because in the end you don’t want to have to worry about them during the game.

 

Images Courtesy of www.dickssportinggods.com

 

Marketing Through College Athletes

           Nike has the Oregon Ducks, Adidas has the Louisville Cardinals, and Under Armour has the South Carolina Gamecocks. What better way of promoting your products than through the college games on Friday and Saturday nights that capture the eyes of millions. I can recite by school who they are sponsored by, and it’s not because I’ve done extensive research, but because of the fact that I am part of those millions who watch collegiate sports and just through observations I’ve been able to figure out who sponsors who. But, what the common fan doesn’t known is the series of strict rules that a college athlete must follow due to the sponsorships of the school they attend.
           This past summer my friend left for Louisville where she had committed to playing soccer. Before she left, she had told our high school team of how she couldn’t wear any of her Nike clothing since Louisville was sponsored by Adidas, and Nike was almost her entire wardrobe. But, once she got to school she was given numerous amounts of Adidas clothing that donned the cardinal red and white of Louisville colors, which was not only a promotion of her school, but also the brand that provided the clothing, Adidas. Another example is my cousin who attends Boston University (BU) on a track scholarship. Currently Boston University is switching over from a Nike sponsorship to New Balance. She has been told that they can no longer wear any of the clothing they were provided by Nike, and now they can only wear New Balance. In both instances you can see the strict rules that college athletes must follow according to the sports company that sponsor their schools, and that is done so that the companies are 100% sure they are being represented and promoted by the athletes.
            I think this type of marketing is ingenious by sports companies all over the nation. It is a win for both the company and the college because the company get marketing by athletes who are plastered on posters and ESPN, and the college receives the necessary clothing and gear needed for their athletics department. As a fan of sports, when I watch college athletes, I’m not just watching the game, but I like to pay attention to the shoes or accessories my favorite athletes are wearing because I want to wear the same gear as them. Just through watching sports daily, I’ve experienced what millions of other viewers have and what the sports companies have worked to achieve. I and millions of others want to buy and wear what the athletes I look up to are wearing, which only creates more revenue for the sports company.

Adidas: A New Type of Fashion

             The latest fashion craze that has taken over today’s generation of young people is known as hipster, and it has now translated to the sports world. Adidas has always been that sportswear brand that has been on the edge with integrating the contemporary fashions of the year with sportswear. Even though they are great at creating some of the best soccer, basketball, and football gear, Adidas has found a way to open themselves to an entirely new audience of customers. Under the Brands tab on the top of their Website, Adidas has three offshoot brands including Originals, Neo, and Stella McCartney which all have different looks that combine the latest fashion seen on the streets with the clothes worn by athletes.
            I think this is a great move by the Adidas Brand as they look for a name for themselves outside of being known as that company that competes with Nike for the top spot in the sports world. This allows them to open up to a new customer base that their competitors don’t even have as an option. Adidas has found its way to keep up with modern fashion by introducing numerous new lines of clothing that are sponsored by the likes of Selena Gomez. As I scroll through the web page, it doesn’t seem like I’m on a sportswear website, but rather on a website like Forever 21 or American Eagle, which gives you an idea of the types of clothing you will see. So, if you are that girl that isn’t really sporty, but wants something to give you that edge of an athlete while still wearing contemporary clothing, I would definitely check out the Adidas website.
            This change by Adidas does a great job creating more customer options, but it also gives them the edge when they work to sponsor athletes, because not only can Adidas offer them the sports gear they need for their job, but they can also offer them the everyday clothing to wear on the streets. From my point of view, I see that as a win-win situation for the athlete because all their fashion needs can be met by Adidas. Also by gaining sponsorships with top athletes, Adidas can create even more collections that are inspired by their athletes that can help generate an even bigger customer base and propel the company forward.
             Adidas has made a great move. The only thing I hope that doesn’t happen is that they forget where their roots are with their original athletic gear because that’s where they got their fame, these new lines are just extra that add to their overall stock as a company and create more options for them. Adidas is leading the way to a new type of fashion that creates athletic wear with a more contemporary style. I would definitely check it out if you are looking for a new look because not many people know about these Adidas offshoot brands, and you could now become the trendsetter amongst your friends!