How to Wear Soccer Socks Like a Pro (Step-by-Step Guide)

post title over image of player wearing soccer socks

Wearing long socks during a soccer game is an essential part of a player’s equipment. But if you’re new to the sport, you may not be confident about how exactly you’re supposed to wear these socks. In this article, I’ll give you everything you need to know.

To wear soccer socks, a player must pull the socks up high enough to cover their shin guards then fold them over just below the knee. Putting tape around the top of the socks, beneath the fold, will help stop the socks from falling down.

In this article, I want to give you the confidence to know how to wear your socks during a soccer game. I’ll discuss how the socks work with shin guards, whether you wear your socks above or below the knee, and I’ll also give you some tips on how to keep socks up if they keep falling down.

Let’s get started.

If your looking for recommendations about what to wear to a soccer game as a fan, then check out my article – What to Wear to Watch a Soccer Game.

How to Put on Soccer Socks – Step by Step

Over the years, I’ve played in more soccer games than I can remember. I have put on long socks in every one of those games before running out on the field to play.

Over this time, I’ve learned a few things about wearing long socks that I want to share with you.

First, let’s cover the essentials of how to wear socks in soccer. Although there is little difference to putting on any other type of sock, it is worth going over the basics to make sure you know the best technique.

To put on soccer socks, first place both your thumbs in the top of the sock and gather up the sides of the sock until you get to the toe of the sock. Then place your toes into the sock and pull the sock up your leg until it is stretched but comfortable.

There is nothing too complicated about wearing soccer socks, and when you have done it a few times, it will quickly feel natural.

What is more important, however, is how you wear soccer socks with shin guards.

How to Wear Soccer Socks and Shin Guards

Soccer socks and shin guards go together at all times. You can’t just wear socks to play soccer, and you can’t just wear shin guards. You need both.

So here’s how you wear them both together.

To wear soccer socks and shin guards, first secure your shin guard to your lower leg, next put on your sock, making sure it completely covers your shin guard. Lastly, ensure that your sock and shin guard is fixed and comfortable.

There are three stages to wear soccer socks and shin guards.

Securing your shin guard in place
Putting your sock on correctly
Fixing your sock and shin guard in place

Each of these stages has several different aspects, so let’s look at each of them quickly.

Securing the Shin Guard in Place

How you secure your shin guards will depend on what shin guards you plan on wearing.

There are several different shin guards out there that you can wear. Youth players usually wear shin guards with ankle support and protection. In contrast, adults usually wear shin guards that only cover the player’s shin.

If you are using shin guards with ankle protection, you will need to put your foot through the elastic ankle loop first.

Then make sure it is sitting comfortably around your ankle before securing the hard plate of the shin guard around your lower leg with the protective part at the front of your leg.

If you are using slip-on shin guards, then you will need to place the shin guards in position on the front of your leg and use any straps attached to them to secure them to your leg.

Putting Your Sock On

Once you’ve fixed your shin guards in place, the next step is to put on your socks.

In soccer, your socks always go over your shin guards.

This is the most important part of wearing socks in soccer.

To put the socks on, the easiest thing is to roll them down so you can put your toes right into the “toe part” of the sock. Then pull the sock all the way up to your knee.

You can then roll the top of the sock over or cover your knee, depending on your personal preference, but I’ll talk about that more in the next section.

Fixing Your Socks and Shin Guards

When your shin guards and socks are on, it’s essential to make sure that they will not fall down once you run out onto the field.

There are several ways to do this, but the first thing you want to do before fixing them in place is to make sure they are comfortable.

To fix them in place, you can use tape, bandages, or even rubber bands. I’ll talk about this more below.

Do Soccer Socks Go Above the Knees?

For a soccer game, the socks must always cover the shin guards. I have already talked about this earlier in my recent article – Why Soccer players wear long socks.

But you may have noticed that some players wear soccer socks in a different way to other players. They stretch their socks so that they cover the knee.

But many other players don’t do this, so you could understandably be a little confused about what is the best option here.

So, do soccer socks go above the knees?

Soccer socks can go above a player’s knees. The socks soccer players wear are usually quite long and can be pulled above the knees. However, this is a matter of personal preference. There is nothing in the rules of soccer that require this.

As I said before, if you spend much time watching soccer, you will quickly see this happening.

Some players will prefer to pull their game socks over their knees. Others like to fold them down as low as possible, while others prefer theirs to hit just below the knee.

This is all about personal comfort and style preference.

I will always wear my socks just below my knee. I found this the most comfortable position, and it worked great for me.

If you’re trying to decide how to wear long socks, I suggest you try the different options.

It doesn’t take long, and you can even try all three options in one game.

Start the game with your socks below the knee
Then partway through the first half, pull the socks down as low as possible, ensuring they are still above your shin guards
Lastly, at half time, or once the second half is underway, try wearing your socks over your knee.

The socks that are worn a few inches below the knee by soccer players are often called calf socks.

Regardless of their preference, one thing is true for all players. Their socks should completely cover their shin guards. If a soccer player wears thick shin guards, then long socks that a player can be pulled over the knees are ideal.

All in all, soccer socks can be pulled above the knees. The choice to do this, however, is usually a personal preference.

How Soccer Players Keep Their Socks Up

Always having to pull your socks up during a game can be frustrating. So you’re probably wondering how soccer players keep their socks up and only rarely pull them up. Well, I have the answer to that.

There are several ways soccer players keep their socks up, including using tape, bandages, or even rubber bands.

Use Tape Above and Below the Shin Guards

Most players use tape to keep their socks in place.

This can be any type of tape, but I recommend using this athletic tape from Amazon. Many soccer players use it; it is designed for the job and won’t let you down.

The most effective way to use tape to keep your socks up is to put on your shin guards and socks first—next, wrap the tape around your ankle, below the shin guard. Then wrap the tape around the top of your calf, above the shin guard.

It’s important to wrap the top tape around your leg before you fold the top of your sock down over it.

Remember not to make the tape too tight on your legs.

Before you leave the changing room, move around the room and make sure the tape is comfortable.

Using Bandage Above and Below the Shin Guards

Another technique some players use to keep their socks up is to wrap bandages around their legs.

These players will cut strips off bandages and tie them around the top of their legs, above the top of their shin guards. After this, they fold their socks over the top of the bandage. When the game is done, they cut it off and toss it in the bin.

This technique is essentially the same as using tape, but a bandage rather than tape is doing the work.

Use Rubber Bands

Another option is to use rubber bands. I’m not personally a fan of this option, but it is a possibility if you want to give it a try.

Some players pull the socks up, put a rubber band over them and fold the top part of the sock down over the rubber band.

Again, this technique is similar to the others. It just makes use of a different product.

The downside of this option is that it’s hard to find rubber bands that are just the right elasticity for your leg.

I wouldn’t recommend tight rubber bands because they may cut off circulation in the legs. But loose rubber bands won’t do the job you need them to.

If you can find a good rubber band for the job, see how it works for you.

Moving Forward

Wearing your soccer socks and shin guards correctly is vitally important for any soccer player. You don’t want to be worrying about them partway through a game because you haven’t put them on correctly.

Socks are not the only item of soccer equipment that you need to know about, though.

For more helpful information about this, have a look at one of my previous articles: