How to Wear a Protective Cup in Sports
Because of the increased danger of groin hits during sports, wearing a protective cup is vitally important for groin safety. According to ESPN, former Chicago Bears defensive back Virgil Livers was accidentally speared in the groin during a punt, which caused one of his testicles to swell with liquid, requiring immediate removal. Wearing a cup -- and wearing it properly -- can help sports players avoid any dangerous consequences, including what happened to Virgil Livers.
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Things You'll Need
- Non-pouch jockstrap
- Protective sports cup
- Briefs or boxer briefs
- Spandex shorts
Instructions
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Put on a pair of briefs or boxer briefs that fit but are not tight. Make sure the briefs are dry and fit comfortably, which will help absorb any perspiration.
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Fit a non-pouch jockstrap over the briefs, keeping its waistband just below the navel. Make sure it fits snugly around the scrotum and waist.
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Extend the jockstrap's waistband with your hand. Place the protective cup over the scrotum, making sure it covers all of the genital area. Release the waistband and adjust the jockstrap so it covers the entire cup.
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For extra protection, slip spandex shorts over the jockstrap. Move each leg around to ensure the jockstrap or cup does not move. If the jockstrap moves around too much, purchase a smaller jockstrap and refit it over the scrotum.
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Tips & Warnings
Trim or shave off pubic hair before wearing a protective cup -- individual hairs could get caught between the cup and the briefs, causing significant discomfort and pain.
Jock straps and cups are shaped differently from sport to sport. Only purchase jock straps and cups tailored to your sport for the best comfort.
References
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Comments
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swimmer356
Nov 29, 2010
Dear Jenny, the ultrasound tech laughed the whole time too and said she thought maybe I should think of it as a sign that shows me the pain girls have. I still don't get that. :/ They should not call them cups unless they are for guys because it DID smash me in. It just all seems like a weird accident that happened because I didn't notice Kaitlyn giving me a female cup (they bought 20 of them for the class) and not the regular kind for me. Thanks for the answer - maybe I'm just dense but I still have a hard time believing you need female groin shields to protect your genitalia because there's so little on the outside that can be kicked! And can't girls just use a guy's cup? I found out it definitely doesn't work the other way around tho. The shields are probably optional for women, but a real cup will NOT be optional for me EVER again! I was in so much pain I couldn't breathe. I... -
jenny8430
Nov 04, 2010
Dear Swimmer, I'm so sorry to hear about your, um, accident. That must have been extremely painful. And I'm sorry, but the part of your story when you discovered it was a female cup, made me laugh hysterically (not at your pain, but at the thought of a guy wearing one of those - it must have just smashed you in more than protect you). Anyway, I can help you with your question as I, too, have taken similar classes (karate) and have worn the article in question. I female groin protector is just that, a shield to protect the female genitalia, as it can be very painful for a woman to get struck there (I'm guessing not nearly as painful as a man getting hit in the testicles, as you have found out). So I hope that helps and I hope you are okay. It must have been some kick to send you to the ER - is everything alright down there?
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swimmer356
Sep 01, 2010
Thanks Ann. The above is not necessarily common sense! My friend Kaitlyn just started teaching a girl's self defense class at my school (UW-Madison) and asked me to be the assistant (the "guy"). When I got there for my first day she gave me a cup for protection. About a half hour into the class I got kicked super hard! It was an accident. But the pain was so bad they had to get me to the ER. Before we left one of the students found the packaging and she gave it to me. It was a groin cup for FEMALES. Kaitlyn gave me the wrong cup and I was in such a hurry I didn't look at it too closely. It was super uncomfortable but I never used one before because I'm a swimmer and a track sprinter. But I had never even heard of a girl's cup before!! Insane. Ann, maybe you know. Why do they make something that is supposed to protect the balls in a version for girls?
