Personal protective equipment serves an integral role in maintaining the safety of an athlete participating in a sport. The usage and development of protective gear in sports has evolved through time, and continues to advance over time. Many sports league or professional sports mandate the provision and usage of protective gear for athletes in the sport. Usage of protective gear is also mandated in college athletics and occasionally in amateur sports.^[1]

American football

• football helmet
• eyeshield
• rib protector
• shoulder pads
• jockstrap with or without a cup pocket and protective cup
• hip, tail, thigh, knee pads
• mouthguard
• Gloves : Gloves^[2] can help a receiver keep his hands more warm and protected in poor weather.
• cleats/shoes

Association football

• jockstrap with or without a cup pocket and protective cup
• shin guards

Auto racing

• Racing helmet
• Fire suit
• Head and neck restraint

Baseball

• batting helmet
• Gloves
• batting gloves
• cleats
• Shin, elbow, upper arm guards
• Hand and wrist guard for runners
• chest protectors, shin guards, and a helmet with a face mask for catchers
• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup

Basketball

• Protective sports glasses or sports goggles, which are also available with prescription lenses.
• jockstrap (optional)

Bowling

• Bowling Gloves optional

Cycling

• jockstrap (optional)
• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup for mountain biking
• spandex shorts
• helmet

Cricket

• Helmet
• Leg pads
• Arm guard
• Jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup
• Gloves (for batting and wicketkeeping)
• Thigh pad

Extreme sports

• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup

Fencing

• Mask
• Jacket
• Chest Protector
• Plastron
• Breeches
• Glove
• Socks
• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup

Figure skating

• pole harness

Golf

• Clothes
• Club(s)
• Glove(s) (Not necessary and usually only worn on the opposite to dominant hand)

Gymnastics

• jockstrap

Field hockey

• shin guards
• mouthguard
• Helmet (Goalkeeper)
• Padding (Goalkeeper)
• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup

Horse racing

• Hat
• Body Protector
• Boots
• Gloves
• Breeches
• jockstrap
• Goggles

Ice hockey

• Shin guards
• Mouthguard
• Helmet
• Shoulder pads
• Elbow pads
• Jock (males) or jill (females)
• Ice pants or protective girdle
• Neck guard
• Gloves
• Specialized protective equipment for goalkeepers (Mask, pants, chest protector, leg pads, skates with toe protection, blocker, catcher, hockey jock or jill)

^[3]

Martial arts

• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup
• High Gear suit
• Compression shorts
• bandage
• Mouth guard

Racquet sports

• jockstrap with a cup pocket and protective cup

In Squash: Goggles to protect the eyes from the ball

Rugby union

All Optional:

• Mouthguard
• Underguards (pads)
• Headguard

Underwater Hockey

• Helmet
• Gloves
• Mouthguard
• Twin-lens diving mask

Volleyball

• Knee pads
• Elbow pads
• Palm guards
• Anklets