The common question among football players is whether or not they wear cups. Football is an impact sport with helmets, shoulder pads, hands, and feet flying all around the field.
Football players don’t wear cups. The cup can interfere with running strides, and many players believe it slows them down.
In this article, we will look more at both the male and female cups and how they can both benefit and hurt a football player.
What Is A Cup For A Football Player?
A cup is a protective piece of plastic that protects a male’s reproductive parts. It’s a form of protection to ensure that no severe contact is made directly with it. Like how a hard plastic helmet protects the head, a cup is worn to protect the private parts.
A cup is typically made of hard plastic, which sits on a jockstrap or some spandex material. It is in the shape of a male’s legs and provides enough comfort and space for players to move around.
Over time, cups have remained the same, as there’s been no innovation to cups. The identical cups worn 20 years ago are still shaped and worn the same way today.
Do Football Players Wear Cups?
As the years passed, more and more football players started to forego wearing cups. Football players, by nature, have thick legs from all of the power-lifting they do. Wearing a cup causes chafing and discomfort, leaving a player’s inner thighs feeling chafed.
The way the pants are designed (tight to the body, almost as a second layer of skin), a cup is uncomfortable to wear throughout an entire practice or game.
For this reason, football players often do not wear cups as they get older. However, when playing youth football, players often wear cups, as the parents insist the younger player protects themselves.
Wearing a cup helps younger players feel as if they’re completely protected in all areas.
What Happens If You Don’t Wear A Cup?
A cup is not a necessary piece of equipment in football. It’s optional, similar to how rib pads or high socks are optional. The referee will not check to make sure every player has a cup; it is simply at the discretion of each player.
If you’re a parent and are concerned about your player’s safety, we recommend checking out these cups, which can help protect your player and make him feel more comfortable.
On the health side, not wearing a cup could result in a player getting hit directly in their private parts. We can’t tell you exactly what will happen (I’m sure you can google it), but players do get hit there accidentally, and it can cause some short-term pain.
If a player takes a hard blow below the belt, it can cause significant discomfort and long-term health problems. Although very unlikely, it could happen if hit directly in the right spot.
Do Females Wear Cups In Football?
Females can choose to wear cups in football if they please. Here is an example of a female cup if they decide to purchase one.
Female cups are similar to that of a male in that they are made to protect the private parts. They are typically in the shape of a male cup but provide a better fitting for a female.
As a male, if the parent thinks it will help protect the player from head to toe, it may not be bad to buy a female cup. Again, a female doesn’t need to wear a cup in football; it’s an optional piece of equipment.
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What Are The Best Cups For Football
We recommend going to your local sporting goods store and measuring the cup to fit the athlete. Although, purchasing online is never a bad idea if you’re looking to get one soon. The sizing charts on the box are typically accurate and fit according to the player’s pants size.
If you’re looking to buy a cup, here are our picks for the best cups to purchase for football season
Shock Doctor
Shock Doctor is a great company that understands the impact and ways to protect the body. They have created a whole line of cups and impact products.
Shown above is the jockstrap, which is a great solution for players who play multiple sports and need a simple solution.
Shock Doctor also has a spandex solution which can be found here. The spandex solution is for players who want to wear spandex for working out but can also use the cup when necessary.
Conclusion
Football players are not mandated to wear cups, although it is common for younger players to wear them.
Players concerned about protecting their private areas should always err on the side of caution and wear a cup. People who are just starting or younger should try wearing a cup to feel comfortable, especially with football pants.
The cup can feel awkward as players’ thighs get more prominent, especially as they start lifting weights in preparation for the season. This can cause the cup to feel more uncomfortable than younger players wearing a cup.
As players get older, they will be less likely to wear cups because it’s not “cool.” It also may hinder an athlete’s performance and cause discomfort to those with thicker thighs.
We recommend wearing a cup as if you would rib pads; it’s your own choice and if you’re comfortable with it, then wear it. If not, it’s entirely up to you, and you accept the factors that come with not wearing one and the potential risk of possibly getting hit in that area.
