Wrestling is one of the sports that require the sportsmen to wear appropriate protective gears while indulging in the sport. This is of paramount importance, especially in case of wrestling, since any unanticipated blow could cause lifelong damage to the different parts of the body. The various gears that usually protect the wrestler are:
1. Head gears or Ear Guards
2. Singlets
3. Wrestling Shoes
4. Knee and Elbow Pads
5. Other equipment
The ear guard or head gear, as it is commonly known as, is one of the protective coverings that a wrestles need to wear around his head. The term “head gear” has stuck on even though what the equipment actually does is avoid any lifelong injury to the wrestler’s ears and chin by cushioning them. Most of the blows during a wrestling match are targeted at the ear, and if a wrestler fails to cover them, he might end up bursting the blood vessels in the delicate region around the ear which causes permanent swelling known as “cauliflower ear”.
Singlets are the one-piece uniform that wrestlers are usually seen wearing. The materials that are usually used to make singlets are spandex and nylon, since they cling to the body and are difficult to grab at during a match. Singlets come in three different shapes, namely, the high-cut, the fila-cut and the low-cut and are usually worn on top of a jockstrap. Reversible singlets, which can be worn inside out, are also in great demand because of their dual color combination.
Wrestling shoes look like regular athletic shoes. However, they are designed to protect the wrestler’s feet by being shock proof. They are extremely lightweight and elastic enough to provide good ankle support and conform perfectly around the player’s feet so that they do not feel hampered in their moves. Wear and tear resistance is also another property that wrestlers cherish in their shoes.