Do basketball players wear cups?

Basketball is a game in which the players risk being injured during the game. If you start playing basketball, one question may come to your mind, “Do basketball players wear cups?” Whenever you play basketball, there is a risk of injury to the genitals of the body. To prevent this risk, many basketball players wear cups. The cup is designed to protect the testicles and penis from injuries. Explore the article “Do basketball players wear cups?” to understand.

What is a protective cup?

The protective or athletic cup is an instrument that prevents basketball players from injuring to the groin part caused by contact during games. Many players wear protective cups to protect a groin from a collision with a ball or a helmet. But even if you play for a few minutes, you should not omit wearing a cup. Sometimes, the diameter of the basketball hoop is high and players get injured when they to put the ball on the basket.

Protective cups are used in many sports, and different varieties are made for all sports, including basketball, hockey, football, baseball, rugby, and other contact sports. Protective cups come in various styles and materials depending on the protection players require. If higher security is needed, players use harder cups for more safety against injuries.

How to wear a protective cup?

Firstly, before wearing a cup, you should know, do basketball players wear cups? There are various ways to wear a protective cup. The most common way, also taught at school, is to wear a cup in front of a supporter. Basketball players wear cups to protect their genitals from injury. To protect the crotch, we need the most optimal cup possible. It is perfect to find the most protective and comfortable cup without a limited range of motion.

The cup should fit perfectly on your skin and be located in the middle of your crotch. You may need to adjust occasionally during play, but the cup should be fixed in most cases.

How to find the right protective cup?

To find a cup, you can start by trying on different types and sizes and see which one fits best for you. If you find a cup you like, try to wear it properly. You must understand whether the protective cup you wear is comfortable enough to play a game for a long time.

Today’s market has adjustable cups of various sizes, shapes, colors, and materials. You can decide which is most effective to ensure protection during a basketball game without compromising comfort. You can find the best protective cups by following these instructions before buying them.

Choose the right material

Historically, most protective cups were made of steel material with a hole in it. This material is highly protective against injuries, but it was uncomfortable for players to enjoy basketball properly. However, the materials of the athletic cup have changed according to the players’ demands.

Some manufacturers use lightweight plastic cups with steel shields, but most brands use strong polymers or carbon fiber. These materials help shield the impact and keep away from the groin area of the player’s body. These cups with shields provide protection and are comfortable for basketball players.

Most athletic cups have a gel pad around the edges for added comfort so the polymer does not get caught in the skin or bite into it. The pads are effective for irritation and rubbing during exercise.

Avoid Harmful Additives

Many protective cups contain harmful additives, such as dyes and bisphenol A (BPA), which can harm players if ingested. You must read the product label carefully and choose a cup containing these harmful substances. You should select a cup of hard material with a strong shield or protector. A suitable cup should fit snugly. you can quickly get better game results if you wear a cup comfortably.

Choose the right size

One of the most critical factors in choosing a suitable protective cup is the size of the cup. Professional basketball players insist on wearing the best-sized cups to enjoy the whole game. You must always refer to the product size chart to measure the exact size. If the cup is too tight or loose, delivering the best game results can be challenging.

Consider your budget

 You can find the best available athletic cups by considering budget before buying them. The price of protective cups can range from $10 to $50. If you are professional athletes, you must purchase expensive, highly protective, and durable cups. But if you need to choose one of the protective cups for use in multiple sports, you should consider an inexpensive option to save money.

Select a supporter

With the protective cups, the jock straps and compression shorts are effective for supporting against injuries. The jockstrap is the most common cup supporter. It comes with a bag to hold the cup and two rubber bands to wrap the leg. The jock straps are usually S, M, and L shaped. These are very elastic and restrict the forces hitting the groin part of the players. You can choose one that fits firmly on the waist.

Compression shorts are a good option if you don’t like the jock strap. The compression shorts are tight boxer briefs with a protective cup groove in the front. Both supporters add protection for players to avoid injuries and play comfortably during games. NBA players also use these supporters according to their taste.

Types of protective cups available

Basketball players can use many types of cups. The most common types of cups that basketball players use are given below:

Hard Cup

 A hard cup is the most popular type of cup among basketball players. It is excellent in protection from impact and comfortable to wear. However, a hard cup can become bulky and interfere with shooting motion. These are less expensive than soft and gel cups. Many players prefer to use it because of its low price.

Soft Cup

 Soft cups is much lighter and more comfortable than hard cup, but its protection performance is not very high. It is a good choice for players who are okay with sacrificing protection to increase comfort. It is more expensive than hard cups.

 Gel cup

 Like a soft cup, the gel cup is light and comfortable, but it also has excellent shock protection. But the gel cup is quite expensive compared to soft and hard cups. Professional NBA players are likely to use gel cups in higher-competition games.

How to clean a protective cup?

The athletic cup should be washed with a hot water sponge and antibacterial soap. We should follow these steps for better cleaning of protective cups to protect the skin from harmful materials (bacteria and viruses).

• Wash your hands before handling glasses.
• Secondly, you should rinse the cup in warm water.
• Soak the neutral detergent in a sponge or a clean cloth. Gently rub the inside and outside of the cup.
• Rinse the cup in warm water.
• Wipe the cup with a clean, dry cloth.

Pros and Cons of Protective Cups

We must understand, do basketball players wear cups? before discussing pros and cons of wearing the protective cups.

Pros

 The protective cups help the basketball players to play with no fear of being injured on the court.  Some pros of wearing a protective cup are given below:

• The advantage of wearing a cup is to protect and give a sense of security to the groin parts of the basketball players. 
• By wearing the cup, players’ blood flow and blood circulation can be promoted.
• NBA players wear athletic cups to protect themselves from accidental impact from the hands and feet of opposing players.

Cons

The protective cups also have disadvantages for payers. Some of the cons are discussed here:

• The pressure on the bladder can lead the players to urinate more frequently.
• The athletic cup gives friction to the groin area when worn and is quite uncomfortable.
• For basketball players, this friction can adversely affect their shooting behavior and their ability to jump to ensure passes and rebounds.
• Groin injuries range from minor bruises and swelling to severe injuries, such as:

1. A distorted or sprained groin
2. Inguinal hernia
3. Sports hernia
4. Testicular torsion

FAQs

Conclusion (Do basketball players wear cups?)

In conclusion, basketball players often wear athletic or protective cups to protect their groin parts from game injuries. Knowing the size and material is important for you to enjoy basketball games if you want to buy cups for playing basketball. Adjustable right-sized cups fit properly and enhance your confidence to play freely. Cleaning the cup is necessary to avoid harmful diseases in the groin parts of our body.