Preparing for your children's sporting events means keeping a mental checklist: uniform, helmet, footwear, mouth guard, water, check. If you've got a son, you might want to add an athletic supporter to your list. In past generations, athletic supporters used to be a must-have item for practices and games. More recently, according to "Slate" Magazine, the trend is to not wear a separate support under your uniform. Jockstraps and cups might be required for some sports programs and optional for others but are always a safety measure to consider.
Soft Supporters
The most basic type of athletic supporter for children to use is a soft supporter. Boys of any age who play contact sports can benefit from a jockstrap of this kind, which holds the genitals together in a pouch to protect them from harm. A support of this kind looks similar to a pair of close-fitting briefs, which may be a new experience and uncomfortably snug for a boy who is accustomed to wearing boxers. Sizing a soft athletic supporter corresponds to your child's waist measurement, not the size of his "family jewels." Small and thin little boys who have a need for support may require the handiwork of a parent who can take some tucks in the elasticized bands with a needle and thread so that the supporter does not sag, rendering it ineffective.
Athletic Cups
An athletic cup is a hard plastic supporter that's used in conjunction with a soft support, though not all cloth supports are manufactured with the requisite pocket in which to insert the cup. The plastic cup lends more protection and can be beneficial to children who play rough contact sports like football, where the feet of the other players can come uncomfortably close to the groin region. Cups come in various shapes and sizes; Daniel Akst of "Slate" recommends narrower versions for smaller boys simply for ease of maneuvering into the correct position.
Sports-Related Testicular Injuries
Depending on the age of your son and the intensity of his sports involvement, he may be at risk for potentially dangerous testicular injury if he doesn't wear an athletic supporter. TeensHealth from Nemours notes that two serious injuries that can occur by blunt trauma to the testicles are torsion and rupture. Testicular torsion is the condition in which the testicle twists around itself and inhibits its own blood supply. The condition is rare but most often affects teens who participate in sports. Testicular rupture occurs when the testicle is slammed against the pubic bone and begins to bleed into the scrotum.
Both of these conditions are extremely painful, may require surgery to correct and could affect future fertility. The risk of testicular injury decreases through the use of an athletic supporter.
