Embodiments of the invention relate to an athletic cup to direct forces away from soft tissue. In an embodiment, the athletic cup has a convex structure to direct a force associated with an impact to the athletic cup to a pelvic bone of a wearer and away from soft tissue of the wearer. In one embodiment, the athletic cup directs the force of an impact away from a penis, a scrotum, and a perineum of a wearer.