The guy sitting in the stands cheering on his favorite sports team might support athletes, but he's not an athletic supporter. Because taking a hit in the genitals can be temporarily disabling for most males, some sports encourage the athlete to wear protective gear in the groin area. An athletic supporter, more commonly called a jock strap, can reduce injuries when worn with a protective cup.
History
In the 1300s, the codpiece, a triangle of fabric stuffed with padding and sewn into the crotch of men's pants, preceded today's athletic supporter and cup. In the 1870s, a new form of male genital protection appeared when sportswear designer Charles Bennett introduced the bike jockey strap, making cycling more comfortable. Today's athletic supporter follows much the same design Bennett used, but with a few tweaks to make it fit and protect more effectively.
Function
The athletic supporter restricts the free movement of the male genitals, holding both the penis and the testicles close to the body. When worn with a separate hard plastic cup, the supporter protects the genitals from bumps and strikes in the groin region.
Features
A wide elastic waistband rides low on the abdomen, with a double-fabric pouch attached in the front. A slit in top of the pouch allows the wearer to insert and remove the hard protective cup. Two elastic straps extend from the bottom of the pouch and connect to the sides of the waistband. Unlike underwear, the athletic supporter does not cover the wearer's buttocks.
Options
The wearer may choose from a variety of colors, sizes and fabrics when selecting an athletic supporter. Smaller versions are available for children who participate in contact sports and padded athletic supporters without hard protective cups are available for cyclists and swimmers who want support without impact protection.
Care and Considerations
Launder athletic supporters after every use to prevent odor and remove sweat and bacteria that may accumulate in the fabric. Remember that wearing an athletic supporter only reduces the risk of injury to the genitals, but a hard strike to the groin area may still result in bruising and pain.
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