Jockstrap

Frontal view of a jockstrap. Properly worn, a jockstrap provides support for the male genitalia during vigorous physical activity.

Jockstrap, (also known as jock, jock strap, strap, supporter, or athletic supporter), is an undergarment designed for supporting the male genitalia during the performance of sports or other vigorous physical activity.

A typical jockstrap consists of an elastic waistband with a support pouch for the genitalia and two elastic straps affixed to the base of the pouch and to the left and right sides of the waistband at the hip. The pouch, in some varieties, may be fitted with a pocket to hold an impact resistant cup to protect the testicles and/or the penis from injury.

Etymology

The word jockstrap has purportedly been in use since 1897 and ultimately traces its origin from jock in the slang sense of penis.

The Bike Jockey Strap was the first jockstrap manufactured in America circa 1874. It is likely the word jockstrap is a contraction of 'jockey strap', with 'jockey' meaning 'rider', and, specifically in this case, a bicycle rider. Jockey meaning (race horse) rider has been in use since 1670.

Jockey itself is the diminutive form of the Scots nickname Jock (for John) as Jackie is for the English nickname Jack. The nicknames Jack and Jackie, Jock and Jockey have been used generically for 'man, fellow, boy, common man'. From the period c.1650-c.1850, jock has been used as slang for 'penis'. In a similar fashion, the nickname Dick (for Richard) is also slang for 'penis'.

History

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Marpage jockstrap and packaging, ca. 1920-1941.

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Vintage Coach athletic supporter packaging from Johnson & Johnson, ca. 1950.

Vintage PEP jockstrap and packaging, 20th century.

The precursor of the jockstrap was a rubberized cotton canvas girdle worn for the sake of modesty by men and boys beneath their worsted wool bathing suits on public beaches during the 1860s. As public sporting events grew in popularity, athletes began to wear the rubberized canvas girdle under their tights and uniforms in order to avoid charges of corrupting public morals with displays of their covered but uncontained genitalia. In 1867, a Chicago sports team refused to take the field wearing "modesty" girdles and forfeited the competition. A riot ensued. In a newspaper story about the event, a Dr. Lamb was quoted as "having recognized a medical benefit to males by the wearing of a protective girdle."

In the 1870s, the Boston Athletic Club sought an undergarment that would provide comfort and support for cyclists (or, bicycle jockeys as they were then known) riding the cobblestone streets of Boston. Traditional undergarments were uncomfortable and the rubberized canvas "modesty" girdle caused chafing and blistering on bicycle seats. What the Boston Athletic Club wanted was a comfortable garment that would accommodate the movements of the bicyclist yet would contain and control the male genitalia in the manner of the rubberized canvas girdle.

In 1874, Charles Bennett of the Chicago sporting goods company, Sharp & Smith, invented the jockstrap. The original name of Bennett's invention was the Bike Jockey Strap and its logo, a large bicycle wheel. The jockey strap was intended, first, for bicycle jockeys, and secondly, for horseback riders. The "bike jockey strap" became known as a "jock strap" and, eventually, simply a "jock".

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. The first consumer mass marketing of the jockstrap occurred in the 1902 edition of the Sears and Roebuck Catalog which claimed the garment, now termed an "athletic supporter" was "medically indicated" for all males that engaged in sports or strenuous activity.

In the early 1900s, the jockstrap influenced the invention of the Heidelberg Electric Belt, a low-voltage electric powered supporter that claimed to cure kidney disorders, insomnia, erectile disfunction, and other ailments. Jockstraps are medically used today to facilitate recovery from injuries and surgeries such as hematocele, hydrocele or spermatocele.

During the 1980s and 1990s, jockstraps were generally no longer mandatory in high school and college sports and gave way to compression shorts. In the early years of the 21st century, however, Calvin Klein, Under Armour, and other manufacturers introduced their own lines of jockstraps and renewed interest in the original garment. An abundance of fashion jockstraps are currently marketed as an alternative to regular underwear.

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 and penis from injuries. 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, basketball and tennis, 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. 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 slim waist and leg straps and 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. "Missile pouches" are designed for the more daring wearer of fashion jocks. Padded pouches, micropouches, floppers, and missile pouches 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, but is very large and bulky. 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 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.

Compression short jock

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 cock ring, or "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 genitals.

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. When worn under trousers with a fly, it allows easy access for urination without removing garments. This is used for medical reasons such as surgery to the groin or for catheter access.

Enhancing jockstraps

These are a basic jockstrap with the addition of either a padding in the pouch area, or may have fabric "C" ring sewn in to lift and bring forward the penis and testicles.

Protective cup

Cup insert for a jockstrap.

Hard cup

Hard cups are currently available in three basic shapes, the classic shape, which lays flat and is approximately triangular when viewed from the front, a newer shape, the banana cup, which is an elongated and skinny triangle that wraps under the testicles for added protection, and a new design called the Nutty Buddy. The banana cup is named after its curvature shape and yellow color. These types have padded rims for comfort and are made of a hard plastic. Ventilation holes are common to promote fast drying and cooling. Cups are available in youth, teen, and adult sizes. Some cups are color coded to help distinguish the different sizes. One manufacturer makes a "PeeWee" size (smaller than youth) which is "Ideal for 1st time athletes ages 4-7 playing T-Ball, PeeWee Soccer and Football."

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 a regular jockstrap or 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 and Muay Thai.

Flex cup

Similar to the "Combined padded jock and cup", the flex 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.

Thai Cup

Solid steel cup used for combat sports (i.e. Mixed Martial Arts, Kick Boxing and Muay Thai)

Jockstraps in popular culture

Collectible celebrity jockstrap: Wade Boggs' Florida spring training jockstrap, date unknown.

• As a teenager, Mickey Rooney appeared in a performance of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream and missed an entrance when the jockstrap beneath his costume became snagged on a tree branch.
• "Knock their jocks off!" is a phrase used by American football coaches and fans to motivate football players.
• Jockstraps of celebrity athletes are sports collectibles.
• Baseball player Ken Griffey, Jr. tossed his jockstrap to a heckling fan.
• The jockstrap has been eroticized by gay men and figures prominently in gay art and literature.
• Locker room pranks involve filling jockstrap pouches with irritating substances like novelty shop itching powders. Jockstrap swiping from lockers and gym bags is also a frequent prank.
• College hazing rituals occasionally involve jockstraps.
• In November 2005, Bike made its 350,000,000 jockstrap. The jockstrap was taken off the assembly line, framed, and flown to Bike's Atlanta headquarters.
• Jockstraps as costumes or props have been seen on-screen in mainstream motion pictures including All the Right Moves, Any Given Sunday, North Dallas Forty, and Youngblood.

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Jock sniffing is a paraphilia that involves inhaling odors from unlaundered jockstraps for the purposes of sexual arousal.

• Jock sniffing is a not uncommon paraphilia, (olfactophilia, or osmolagnia). The practice involves inhaling odors from unlaundered jockstraps for the purposes of sexual stimulation. 'Jock sniffer' is a term encountered in the media and is generally defined as an individual with a homoerotic interest in athletes. The term is generally used pejoratively or humorously.
• The term 'jockstrap medal' is sometimes used as slang in the same way 'coattails' is used, i.e. to imply that someone has achieved success in some way simply by being with someone else with more talent. Members of the Chicago Bulls were accused of 'hanging on to Michael Jordon's jockstrap' as he led them to their championships. A jockstrap medal (or jockstrap award is 'given' (usually tongue-in-cheek) to someone who has achieved success by being at the right place at the right time, not necessarily through their own talents.
• Vintage jockstraps and their packaging are collectibles.

See also

• Boxer shorts
• Briefs
• Compression shorts
• G-string
• Jock itch
• Jock sniffing
• Pelvic protector
• Swimming supporter

Sources, references, and external links

• AllKink's Jockstrap Locker Room
• Jockstrap
• Etymology Online
• How to put on a jockstrap
• Esquire Magazine, 1974: A Short History of the Jockstrap
• A seller's page on the history of the jock strap
• Bike's history
• History of the jockstrap
• Testicular Trauma and Care
• Jockwoof’s Guide to Athletic Supporters and Protective Cups
• A satirical article about Jock Strap, the true inventor of the athletic supporter
• International Jock
• Resource showing Jock Straps and Protective Cups in use, includes historic and patent information.
• Where Have All the Jockstraps Gone?
• A blog about jockstraps