What is the awrah for men in sports?

For men, the awrah in sports is the same as anywhere else: from the navel to the knee. That area should be covered in front of others while you play, train or change. Your chest, arms and lower legs aren't awrah, so a T-shirt or vest is fine, but very short shorts and tight, see-through kit are a problem.

What "awrah" means

Awrah is the part of the body that must be covered in front of others. Clothing is described in the Quran as a gift that covers us and also beautifies:

يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ قَدْ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكُمْ لِبَاسًا يُوَٰرِى سَوْءَٰتِكُمْ وَرِيشًا ۖ وَلِبَاسُ ٱلتَّقْوَىٰ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ "O children of Adam, We have bestowed upon you clothing to conceal your private parts and as adornment. But the clothing of righteousness – that is best..." Quran 7:26

The Prophet ﷺ also said, "A man should not look at the awrah of another man" (Sahih Muslim 338). So this rule applies in all-male teams and changing rooms too, not just in front of women.

Navel to knee: the details

The majority of scholars (Shafi'i, Hanbali and Maliki) say the area between the navel and the knee is awrah. The Hanafis include the knee itself, so they ask you to cover it as well. A narration says the thigh is awrah (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2798), which is why most scholars ask men to cover the thighs during sport. A minority view, found in some Maliki and Hanbali reports, treats the thigh as a "lighter" awrah, but covering it is the safer and more widely held position.

What this means for common sports kit

Football, basketball, rugby: wear knee-length shorts, or compression leggings under standard shorts. See Can I still wear shorts to the gym as a Muslim?
Running: longer running shorts or tights with shorts over them.
Swimming: knee-length board shorts or jammers instead of briefs. See Can I still go swimming at a public pool as a Muslim?
Wrestling and martial arts: leggings under a singlet or shorts; tight clothing should not be see-through.
Bodybuilding shows: posing trunks expose the awrah, which is why scholars advise against competing in them.

Changing rooms and showers

Change under a towel or in a cubicle, and avoid communal open showers when others are uncovered. Lower your gaze from others too. It may feel awkward at first, but most teammates hardly notice, and many Muslim athletes do the same at every level.

Other sports rules for men

Men also avoid gold and pure silk, including gold-coated jewellery worn during sport. For medals, see Can Muslim men wear gold sports medals?

Key points

A man's awrah is from the navel to the knee.
Hanafis also include the knee, so cover it to be safe.
It applies in front of men too, including in changing rooms.
Leggings under shorts are an easy fix for most sports.

Tip: Buy two pairs of black compression leggings. They go under any team shorts, keep your muscles warm, and most referees and coaches won't even comment.