Jockstrap

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For the scuba backpack harness strap, see Scuba set.

A jockstrap, also known as a jock or athletic supporter, is a type of men's undergarment designed for use in sports or other activities, such as during the recovery from a vasectomy. They are sometimes worn by some people as general, everyday underwear.

A typical jockstrap consists of a wide elastic waistband with a support pouch and two straps extending from the base of the pouch around the buttocks (which it does not cover, unlike briefs or boxers) to attach to the waistband. The pouch, in some varieties, may be fitted with a pocket to hold an impact resistant cup or box to protect the testicles from injury.

Jockstrap
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Jockstrap

The nearest female counterpart is the pelvic protector, occasionally referred to as a jill strap (or shortened jill).

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[edit] Linguistics

The word is reportedly used in sports since 1897, from jock in the slang sense "[[penis (itself since c.1650-c.1850, probably from Jock, a mainly Scottish nickname for John, which was used generically for "common man" from 1508, compare jockey, Jack; similarly jill for females); since 1952 also shortened back to jock.

[edit] History

The jockstrap was invented in 1874 by C. F. Bennett of a Chicago sporting goods company, Sharp & Smith, to provide comfort and support for bicycle jockeys riding the cobblestone streets of Boston. In 1897 Bennett's newly-formed Bike Web Company patented and began mass-producing the Bike Jockey Strap. The Bike Web Company later became known as the Bike Company. Today, Bike is still the market leader in jockstrap sales.

The jockstrap was also influential in early 1900s medicine with the invention of the Heidelberg Electric Belt, a low-voltage electric powered jockstrap that claimed to cure kidney disorders, insomnia, erectile disfunction, and other ailments. Today, jockstraps are still being used for medical purposes, such as the suspensory and for the rest from injury or surgery such as hematocele, hydrocele, or spermatocele.

During the 1980s and 1990s, jockstraps slowly faded away to compression shorts and generally were not required by high schools and colleges. However, in recent years more and more athletes are turning back to the jockstrap for use in sports and athletic activities. This is reflected in the fact that new brands and companies are beginning to introduce their own line of jockstraps, such as Calvin Klein and Under Armour.

There is also an increase in the number of fashion jockstraps as an alternative to regular underwear. Jockstraps provide support to keep the wearer comfortable while efficiently keeping the genitals covered. They are also cooler to wear as they allow sweat to evaporate more freely.

[edit] Jockstrap styles

There are several variations of jockstraps:

Wide band with a cup
Jockstraps with pouches and cup inserts are generally worn by baseball, football, Lacrosse and cricket players and others participating in full-contact team sports to protect their testicles from injury. These are a requirement in some sports such as baseball, especially for catchers.
Wide band without a cup
This is the most common "gym jockstrap" used for general support. It is common in football, soccer, track and field, cross country running and basketball, and often used in wrestling. It is often used in baseball by players other than those playing the position of catcher. It is good for lifting protection. It is thought to assist in the prevention of testicle torsion.
Narrow waistband
Narrow waistbands, or "swimming/running jocks" as they are commonly termed, are worn underneath swimming trunks and running shorts. They are sometimes worn under wrestling singlets. They provide protection and support while having only a 1" waistband that will not show as easily outside of shorts. Since there is no material in the back, the waistband has no anchor causing it to roll and bind which makes it uncomfortable for long duration activities. If worn under Speedos, the leg straps will show.
Fashion jock
In addition to mainstream practical jocks, some manufacturers make specialty jockstraps for "fun and play". They fit in the "sexy" or even "fetish" (e.g. referring to popular role-play characters, such as soldiers, firemen) underwear categories and can be made with see-through mesh, leather, velvet, silk, rubber, Rayon, Lycra or even chainmail. Some fashion jocks feature a small but well-contoured "micropouch" that will accommodate a flaccid penis. This type of jock is called a "microjock." Other fashion jocks feature a roomy, generous pouch, known as a flopper, that will accommodate a large or erect penis. "Padded" jocks enhance the male anatomy. Padded pouches, micropouches, and floppers can also be incorporated into "thong-style" underwear.
Hockey jock
A regular jockstrap with the addition of four adjustable elastic straps and garter clips that hold hockey socks worn over shin pads covering the entire leg up to the thigh in place. Another common jock in hockey is the goalie protector, a protector with genital and abdominal foam padding. It includes, inner thigh guards with an upper puck bumper.
Windproof jock
Rather than a pocket to hold a hard, protective cup, windproof jockstraps have a special layer of fabric over the genitalia that protects them from wind and cold, similar to the protection offered by wind briefs. Nordic skiers and winter hikers are the primary users of this variety of jock, as the heat created by their physical activity, along with the freedom of motion they require, may make wearing heavy layers to protect against wind and cold infeasible.

The following are not jockstraps or athletic supporters, but they are listed as related items

Jock brief
A jock brief, or support briefs, have a full seat instead in the back and a pouch in the front. They resemble normal briefs but have a wider, stronger waistband and are made of a more supportive material. They are gaining popularity with youth as they are less revealing than their counterparts however they typically do not provide the level of support, protection, or flexibility. They are available with or without removable cups.
Thong jock
A thong style jockstrap, similar to the athletic type, has only one strap attached to the bottom of the pouch, passing under the crotch, up between the buttocks and attaching to the waistband at the middle of the back. This style is often called dance belt, since it is commonly worn by male ballet dancers who often wear tight fitting Lycra that would reveal a normal jockstrap's strap, but also for other activities.
Compression short jock
Losing in fashion to regular compression shorts, they are compression shorts with a full or partial jockstrap sewn into the inside. They provide pockets for a cup and, in the case of the football variety, provide pockets for thigh and backbone pads.
Strapless jock
The strapless variation to the jock, called a sock for "strapless + jock", has an elastic pouch that hooks behind the scrotum instead of being held in place by the normal leg straps. While fulfilling the same purpose of comfort and lift, this design is less secure and has a tendency to 'slip off' as a result of frequent intense leg movements such as running or jogging. Some strapless jocks feature a pouch with an internal fabric/elastic "c-ring" that either slides along the penis and encircles the base of the testicles or, alternately, simply snaps around the base of the testicles to snugly attach the pouch to the genitals. While this type of pouch permits the wearer to "go backless," c-ring pouches can be attached to either a thong or traditional jockstrap. C-rings enhance the size of the male anatomy.
Suspensory
Suspensories are similar to the jockstrap with one main exception; above the pouch that holds the testicles is a hole to put the penis through so that it hangs free from the constriction of the pouch. This is used for medical reasons such as surgery to the groin or for catheter access. Suspensories can also now be worn as a fashion statement, with thong and traditional jockstrap styles.

[edit] Protective cup

Cup insert for a jockstrap.
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Cup insert for a jockstrap.
Hard cup
Hard cups are currently available in two basic shapes, the classic shape, which lays flat and is approximately triangular when viewed from the front and the newer shape, the banana cup, which is an elongated and skinny triangle that wraps under the testicles for added protection. The banana cup is named after its curvature shape and yellow color. Both types have padded rims for comfort and are made of a hard plastic. Ventilation holes are common to promote fast drying and cooling.
Padded cup
Padded cups are worn in mild to full contact sports. They are made out of a soft pad that can reduce some low impacts. They are worn primarily by youth and by people who find regular cups to be uncomfortable. These do not provide the level of support of hard cups and can become unsanitary due to the pad itself becoming full of moisture and lack of ventilation. The ventilation issue is also of concern due to overheating. These types are common in soccer.
Cup-only protector
Cup protectors that don't use a pouch are also available. The waistband and straps attach directly to the cup often in a one size fits all fashion. These are designed to be worn over briefs, especially if the cup has holes in it, otherwise the scrotum can be painfully pinched in the cup hole. They are common in kickboxing and martial arts to protect against groin attacks.
Combined padded jock and cup
An oversized cup and jock combined into a single item. It has layered foam padding that protects the groin, kidneys and abdomen. Generally made from leather for high durability. Has a liner inside that absorbs sweat and prevents slipping. It has a hook and loop closure for convenience and adjustability with inverted hips for unrestricted movement. Used in boxing.
ProFlex cup
Similar to the "Combined padded jock and cup", the ProFlex cup combines the hard and soft cup. It features a hard cup melded into a soft cup. This results in hard cup protection up front but with a flexible and soft backing.

[edit] How to wear

The most common way to wear a jockstrap is to put it on immediately over the skin, as the bottom layer. However, one can wear the jock under a pair of compression shorts to avoid having the leg straps show if so desired. The pouch goes in front and the legs go through the leg straps. Pull it up and adjust to comfort. Some men like their penis to point directly up, others like it pointing either to the left or the right, while still others bend it forward so it points down. Pointing down is most comfortable when wearing a cup. It can cause problems in an erect or partially erect state while pointing to the side can cause hanging out the edge. A lot of times the penis ends up moving and pointing to one side or the other; if this happens, minor readjustment may be necessary. The cup can be inserted before or after the jockstrap is worn. Make sure the rim of the cup firmly comes in contact with the pubic bone without resting on the genitals; otherwise impact injuries can occur. Some catchers remove the cup before going to the plate to bat because they feel they can run faster without the cup. The UnderArmour jockstrap makes this easy to do.

They are very useful to wear instead of regular underwear during hiking,camping, or other outdoor activities as they absorb less moisture than a pair of cotton briefs and can provide much needed cooling. Jockstraps can also prevent scrotal chafing and impact because the scrotum is lifted away from the thighs, very useful while hiking long distances. Since most jocks are a cotton, polyester and/or spandex blend, they can easily be washed and hung to dry quickly each night. A jockstrap can also be worn under undershorts, as a third layer.

[edit] Care

Although jockstraps are easy to wash and dry easily, they are one of the least washed items due to the convenience of leaving them in a locker or gym bag after a workout and only worn for brief periods of time. It is advised that one should always wash and dry jockstraps after every use because they can spread jock itch (tinea cruris) which is a fungus and is commonplace in gyms. It is also advisable to take a shower after a workout and towel dry thoroughly. Use a powder or dermatophyte antifungal cream if there is any redness or itching in the groinal area. Always wear sandals in showers, never barefoot. Athletes foot (tinea pedis), which is very common in gyms, can be transferred to jockstraps and cause jock itch. Try to make sure bare feet never touch the jockstrap or put socks on first before putting on a jockstrap.

Be sure to read the care instructions on the label. Since most jockstraps have wide bands comprised of mostly rubber, they cannot be placed in dryers on high heat. This can cause the waistband to shrink and warp. The cups themselves should never be placed in a clothes dryer but are safe to be placed in a washing machine, then air dried. Never use a high-fragrance detergent because in a damp and hot environment the chemicals from the fragrance can seep into open sores caused by jock itch or chafing and cause more discomfort and irritation.

[edit] Replacement and disposal

Even with proper care, like any other clothing item, jockstraps will wear down and need to be replaced. It is crucial to maintain sports equipment and a jockstrap is no exception. The construction of a jockstrap will determine its life span. Many older jockstraps were made with natural rubbers and cotton which naturally break down. Newer jockstraps today incorporate many synthetic and natural materials that provide a longer lasting consistent product. Signs that your jockstrap will need to be replaced start with a looser fit, fraying ends, holes, wear on the pouch or other physical defects. These can create hazards or equipment malfunction. Jockstraps should be properly disposed as municipal solid waste in a trash receptacle. Care should be taken that they are not reused, as mentioned above under care. Regular replacement is also recommended for sanitary reasons. Many sports teams reuse their jockstraps only a few times or they are single use only then destroyed.

[edit] Brands

  • 2(x)ist
  • Ace
  • Adams
  • Adidas
  • All-Star
  • AT
  • AussieBum - inventor of the Wonderjock, to enhance the size of a mans package
  • Banana hard cup
  • Bauer & Black
  • BIKE Athletic Company
  • C-IN2
  • Calvin Klein
  • Champion
  • Core
  • The Duke
  • Flarico, Franklin
  • Futuro
  • Ginch Gonch
  • Go Softwear
  • Golden Tiger
  • McDavid
  • PCP Champion
  • Pro Sport
  • Safe-T-Guard
  • Shock Doctor
  • Sportjock
  • Stromgren
  • Top Jock
  • Under Armour
  • XO Athletic

[edit] See also

[edit] Sources, references and External links

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