Our Story

My background in engineering and as a former player quickly called foul on what I saw as a solution for metatarsal protection and recovery: 

Padded socks:

• Memory foam padding. Really? Save it for the pillows.
• Shoe already compresses the padding, no protection at all.
• Unstable lacing in rest of foot compensating for the bulky sock.
• Sock doesn't match the uniform.

Metatarsal Lace-up Guards:

• Not approved for use on soccer field.
• Plastic rubs and interferes in foot movement.
• Awkward lacing, how is a kid going to put this on?

Rubber Slip-on Guards:

• Not approved for use on soccer field.
• Once size-fits-all piece of rubber, no padding or impact absorption.

Armed with the frustration as a parent, who's child said they were scared to play because they think the soccer ball will break their little pinky bone again, I went to work! While engineering a custom metatarsal protector that would instill protection, confidence, and comfort, I suddenly recalled being kicked in the shin during a game over 20 years ago! Through hours of research, i realized the shocking truth about shin guard protection standards. There are none!

But wait, NOCSAE is the only agency I came across with a standard. Who??Again, another lab test and not a real-world testing protocol. Zero clout with FIFA or IFAB. I soon discovered this for high school soccer only, and likely not even enforced. I even played soccer in high school and never heard of this.

I can honestly tell you that as a certified US Soccer Referee, no referee will ever inspect your shin guards for any logo or sticker for compliance. It simply doesn't happen and is not required. It's a pass/fail test if you have them on or not. Back over to you FIFA for "suitable material".