Source: Haka Athletic
Charlottesville, VA - Startup sports company Haka Athletic is bringing a new level of safety to U.S. soccer fields this summer. With the anticipated launch of their carbon fiber shin guard, the Shield, on August 15, the company plans to equip players just in time for the Fall season. The primary focus of the Shield is athlete safety, but it also offers the benefits of a sleek, virtually weightless design to update one of the game’s most cumbersome pieces of gear.
Using advanced material technologies Founder Adam Freeman has worked with designers and manufacturers to produce a much stronger shin guard than traditional foam and plastic models that players enjoy wearing. “We combined three essential components that would ensure ultimate protection, and allow athletes to play with confidence,” says Freeman. The combination of advanced PoronXRD padding, a 3-D printed silicone grip and a Torray-Japanese carbon-fiber shell all add up to just 1.5 ounces in a package that’s only 3.5 millimeters thick. “Offering soccer players a premium product designed for durability, superior safety, and athletic performance is at the core of Haka.” The company also offers a lifetime warranty, encouraging players to consider the $129.99 price tag a long-term investment.
Soccer is the most popular sport worldwide, and it continues to grow in the United States. Youth soccer has seen a 90% increase in participants since 1990, and U.S. Youth Soccer boasts 5 million athletes from 5-19 years old registered today. The rise in number of players has also lead to an increase in injury within the sport.
A study released last September in the journal Pediatrics indicated a steady rise in the number of soccer-related injuries as well as a 111.4% increase in the rate of these occurrences from 1990 through 2014. The report concluded that the most common injuries among soccer athletes were strains, sprains, broken bones, and soft tissue injuries. Findings from the Journal of Sports Science & Medicine explain that lower extremity fractures account for between 30 and 33% of all soft tissue injuries. This study also shows that carbon fiber absorbs impact 400% better than other protective products on the market made out of plastic, fiberglass, and foam.
Haka representatives will be touring soccer tournaments in the Southeast this Fall to share more of their findings on athlete protection. In addition to local events, the Shield shin guards are now available for purchase online at hakaathletic.com.
About Haka Athletic
Haka Athletic is committed to protecting today’s warrior athletes, using innovation in design and materials to achieve a level of performance that intimidates. Founded in 2016, Haka aims to utilize the properties of carbon fiber in order to shield athletes from injury while endowing them with the game-winning confidence that comes from premium protection.
