The subject of groin injuries came up recently during a discussion on whether or not lacrosse players should wear cups.
Because lacrosse is a contact sport, there is a lot of protective gear required to play. Lacrosse players frequently question whether or not they must wear a protective cup, one particular piece of gear.
Numerous NLL players have voiced their complaints about their agony when bending over and folding, but some have questioned if the issue is indeed that serious.
Multiple lacrosse players have stated that they dislike wearing cups and should consider quitting the sport if they do.
Although cups are not mandatory for lacrosse players, many players may decide to wear them.
Players are urged to wear a protective cup, whether in a game or a practice.
Players who refuse to wear cups are far more likely to suffer serious injuries. It is an unwritten rule that almost all lacrosse players follow, even though it isn’t listed clearly in the game’s rulebooks.
In this article we’ll go over the burning question about lacrosse players wearing cups and explain all there is. Shall we?
Why Do Lacrosse Players Wear Cups?
Every lacrosse player knows that while watching a live game, they should be wearing a cup, yet some still choose comfort over safety.
Even though many players make fun of the idea of donning a protective cup, it’s generally accepted that it’s necessary for the lacrosse game.
Wearing a cup has numerous enormous advantages.
Perhaps the most important piece of safety gear, the cup, deflects the impact of what might otherwise be a catastrophic injury that might have long-term consequences.
There are many situations in which you could sustain a groin injury. A defenseman has the ability to throw a defensive stick check that veers off course and strikes the vulnerable areas.
Your single mistake of being in the wrong place at the wrong moment can put you in the sights of a wild shot.
Even after attempting to make a move on the ball, players may end up scattered on the ground and risk getting unintentionally cleated in the groin.
Without a protective cup, the potential injury may be terrible in these diverse scenarios. In rare cases, the harm done can even be irreversible.
Wearing a protective cup on the pitch might feel awkward, but it’s worth it.
Not using a protective cup is not optimal because of the “danger versus the benefit.” One poor play is all it takes to ruin your guys for the rest of your life.
When playing lacrosse, each player needs to have a cup on. There is no if, and, or but about it.
To enter a lacrosse field without following the appropriate safety steps would put you at grave risk. Also, Murphy’s law can catch you off guard.
Cups Increase Confidence in the Field
Aside from the apparent advantage of protection, another factor that lacrosse players frequently forget about is the increased confidence you’ll have while playing.
For instance, they won’t be frightened to block their shot whenever they’re on defense and an opponent rearers up for a shot.
Those players who just don’t care about exposing their vulnerable groin area sometimes have the opportunity to play stronger defense but choose to refrain out of concern about getting hurt.
This could be a significant obstacle for defensemen. After all, a defenseman’s main duty is to apply pressure on ball handlers, especially when they get ready to shoot.
It may sound cruel, but offensive players with high IQ levels will figure out that you cringe whenever they prepare to shoot. They will eventually incorporate a few shot fakes here and there to take advantage of this flaw and improve their chances of scoring.
Wearing a protective cup provides extra confidence that’s not just for risky shots. It affects every aspect of lacrosse.
I heard many stories when guys started putting their bodies on the line a lot more as soon as they switched to wearing a protective cup.
Does the Average Lacrosse Player Wear a Protective Cup?
You might wonder how many lacrosse players truly follow this advice after hearing so much about wearing a protective cup.
This topic was covered in a survey conducted on Inside Lacrosse. “Do you wear a cup?” was a straightforward yet crucial question for the participants.
“Yes” received 66.8% of the total votes, making it the clear victor of this poll.
The information that most astonished me was that many lacrosse players still opt to forgo wearing a protective cup.
A little over 30% of poll respondents acknowledged not using a cup. That much is outrageous!
Hopefully, in the future, lacrosse players will understand that comfort should never take precedence over protecting their sensitive areas.
How to Choose a Lacrosse Athletic Cup
Men know how terrible it is to be struck below the belt. Not only is it uncomfortable, but groin injuries can be very bad.
Because of this, plenty of male athletes, pros and amateurs, who participate in contact sports have bought athletic cups since the start of the 20th century.
Modern cups are very different from those from more than a century ago because of recent developments in protective sports equipment.
Modern athletic cups are thin and made to cushion the impact of a game on the testicles.
However, purchasing cups can be challenging, particularly if you have children. What size do you need to find? What substances offer greater protection than others?
To select the best one for you and understand everything there is to know about sports cups, let’s dive into these questions with this in mind.
Materials
Most athletic cups from that era were composed of perforated steel.
They weren’t exactly comfortable, despite the excellent protection this provided. Things have mainly altered since then.
While some companies sell lightweight plastic cups with steel barriers, the majority are constructed of carbon fiber or robust plastics. These materials aid in groin protection and stress absorption.
Most sports cups feature a gel pad around the edges for increased comfort, which stops the polymers from pinching or scraping into the skin.
This is fantastic because the padding helps prevent chaffing and irritation while moving.
Most cups are machine washable, but you should also always double-check the packaging.
If the cup you choose is not washable, you can wash it in a hot water bath or sink with dishwashing liquid or antibacterial soap. Before cleaning the cup with a new sponge or dishcloth, let it soak. After washing, make sure to let it air dry.
Sizing
Choosing the right size is made simple by a wide variety of brands. Your waist measurement is essentially all you need to know.
Boys’ sports cups often range from 19 to 30, whereas men’s cups typically range from 28 to 46.
Support
Most companies that sell lacrosse athletic cups also provide undergarment supporters, which can protect your cup from shifting while exercising.
Impact shorts, jockstraps, and compression shorts are the three basic categories of supporters.
Compression shorts and briefs are extremely comfortable, form-fitting undergarments. They have a compartment in the front that can safely accommodate an athletic cup. These look terrific worn underneath the majority of uniform bottoms.
Jockstraps have a cup pocket, an attached waistband, and retention straps that go across the rear of your bottom. Jockstraps appear to be losing favor as compression shorts become more prevalent because they can be so much more comfortable.
Impact shorts offer pockets for hip and thigh protection in addition to a pocket for your cup.
Naturally, protecting your groin is really important, so if you still have any questions about sports cups, don’t be ashamed to contact a coach or a store employee.
Make sure you’re protected when the lacrosse game becomes more intense.
Consider NuttyBuddy for Lacrosse
Players that choose not to wear protective cups frequently claim that they aren’t all that helpful. They claim that protective cups on the market now break when they are subjected to actual, powerful hits.
I searched the internet till I found a video that truly attracted my attention. John Brenkus, the show’s host, invited a producer of protective cups who boasted that his NuttyBuddy product was the best available.
The fact that NuttyBuddy’s developer was prepared to back up his claims set this product apart from the competition.
He offered to put on the Nutty Buddy safety cup and take the direct 90 mph fastball to the groin! Check the video below to see for yourself.
After seeing this madness, I became a strong supporter of NuttyBuddy. Although I’m not encouraging you to take fastballs traveling at 90 mph to your jewels voluntarily, you can play lacrosse without worrying about your groin.
