A shin pad, also known as a shin guard, is a piece of equipment included in a football kit. Shin pads are used to protect the football players' shins from the ball or from other players' tackles during a game. They are usually held on to the player's leg using Velcro straps. In order to cut down the number of injuries, most school, club and professional teams have decided to make wearing shin pads obligatory while playing.
The shinbone (tibia) is mostly exposed along its front surface, since it lies directly under the skin and does not have surrounding muscles like many other bones. As a result of exposure, blows to the tibia are more likely to cause injury, and may even cause a fracture. Injuries in the shinbone are also extremely painful, due to the fact that the outer surface of the bone (Periosteum) is abundant in pain receptors.  
The first pair of shin pads were made and worn by Sam Weller Widdowson in 1874. He took a pair of cricket pads, cut them lower and wore them outside his stockings. Originally he was teased, but later shin pads caught on with other players. Throughout the years the pads have become smaller and are now being worn inside the stockings.
According to the rules of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), shin pads must be covered entirely by the player's stockings, and should be made of plastic, rubber or a similar material. In addition, they should give an acceptable amount of protection.