What Is an Athletic Supporter?
An athletic supporter is a device that supports the male genital organs during sporting activities. It is worn underneath the clothing in most cases.
Use of supporters in sport has fallen out of favor in recent years. Younger boys might have never used a supporter or cup while their fathers would not have considered doing without one. Compression shorts and going without protection are the new trend.
Many professionals now agree there is little benefit to wearing a supporter except for the ability to pair it with a cup to prevent serious incidental damage to the groin from activity.
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The Purpose
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Protection of male genitalia during sporting events is the main purpose of an athletic supporter. The supporter protects these body parts during physical activity by keeping the testicles from becoming caught between the legs.
They once also helped to guard modesty by restraining the male genitals from visible movement during sporting events. Supporters can also protect the groin during recovery from some specific medical conditions by buttressing the area.
Athletic supporters are gaining popularity as an alternative to more traditional forms of male underwear.
Also Known As
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Athletic supporters can be found under other names, such as the jock strap (also, jock or strap), or box. The terms come from a variety of origins, including slang words once used for the penis, common terms for boy or man and from their use by bicycle riders (bike jockey).
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Sport Specific
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Some types of athletic supporters are made specifically for certain sports, such as swimming and hockey. They can be found with additional attachments, extra padding and a more narrow or wider waistband to fit the movements and needs of the sport.
Fashion jocks are made from decorative and even erotic materials. Their function is to capture attention and achieve a look instead of acting to protect.
Parts
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The waistband is made of elastic and fits around the waist of the wearer, just as the elastic band of a pair of underwear. The pouch is over the genital area and contains the genitals. Straps extend from the elastic in front to the rear of the pouch. The straps run across the top of the thigh in front and, in the back, cup the buttocks.
The Cup
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Cups protect the groin from a direct blow that could damage the genitals. Cups are made to slip inside the pouch of an athletic supporter and completely cover the testicles and penis.
Cups can be found in the traditional form (generally wider and shallow) or in banana shapes (narrow, elongated). Cups are made of hard materials for full contact sports and softer materials for sports with less physical contact. They have holes to allow air flow and moisture to escape.
Protective gear can be worn on the outside of clothing in some sports.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by The Library of Congress@ Flickr via everystockphoto
