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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
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Who it is for: athletic trainers, clinic and school staff who stock taping supplies, and students learning the product classes. After reading, you should be able to tell rigid, elastic, cohesive, pre-wrap and kinesiology tape apart and know how they are classified.
What is athletic tape?
Athletic tape is a strip of fabric or plastic with adhesive on one side, used on the body to support or secure. In US regulation it falls under medical adhesive tape, defined in 21 CFR 880.5240 as a device used to cover wounds, hold wound edges together, support injured body parts, or secure objects to skin. The most familiar form is the non-elastic tape that the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) describes as 1.5-inch non-elastic athletic tape, sometimes called coach or white tape.
Athletic tape types and variants
The NFHS equipment guidance for a secondary school athletic training facility names several taping items. A peer-reviewed trial also splits taping into two broad families: rigid and elastic.
| Type | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Non-elastic (rigid) athletic tape | Listed as 1.5-inch non-elastic tape, also called coach or white tape. In one 2025 trial the rigid tape was a zinc oxide-based hard cotton tape fabric applied without stretch. | NFHS; Yorulmaz et al. 2025 |
| Elastic athletic tape | Listed by NFHS with examples such as PowerFlex and cohesive stretch tape. | NFHS |
| Pre-wrap (underwrap) | Listed by NFHS as a taping-related item used alongside tape. | NFHS |
| Kinesiology (elastic) tape | Called Kinesio Taping in the trial, which describes its product as 100% cotton with acrylic adhesive, breathable and latex-free. | Yorulmaz et al. 2025 |
The trial describes the products used in that one study; other brands differ. For kinesiology tape in more depth, see kinesiology tape types and the kinesiology tape vs athletic tape comparison.
Standard size named by NFHS
The only roll width the NFHS guidance names is 1.5 inches, for non-elastic tape. Other widths vary by product, so check the product listing or instructions for use.
How is athletic tape regulated?
Under 21 CFR 880.5240(b), medical adhesive tape and adhesive bandage is Class I (general controls) and exempt from premarket notification, subject to 21 CFR 880.9. The openFDA classification database lists product code KGX, Tape And Bandage, Adhesive (class 1), and PYO, the adjustable-closing-mechanism OTC version (class 1). Checked 2026-10-30.
How to use athletic tape
Athletic tape is used to support body parts and to secure items to skin, as the regulation puts it. Technique for a given joint is taught by an athletic trainer or clinician, so this page gives no wrapping steps. NFHS recommends at least one dedicated taping station with storage for tape, pre-wrap, scissors and gloves.
How to apply athletic tape
Application is joint-specific. In the 2025 trial the rigid tape was applied without stretch, and NFHS lists pre-wrap as a companion item. For the technique itself, ask an athletic trainer or clinician and follow the product’s instructions for use.
How to remove athletic tape
Follow the instructions for use of the specific tape. For a background on adhesive-related skin issues, see allergic reaction to medical tape.
Common mistakes
- Treating elastic and non-elastic tape as interchangeable: NFHS lists them as separate items, and the trial applied the rigid tape without stretch.
- Confusing tape with other products: wound dressings and elastic bandages are separate products. See what medical tape is for the wider category.
FAQ
What is athletic tape?
A strip of fabric or plastic with adhesive on one side, used to support body parts or secure objects to skin; in US regulation it is medical adhesive tape (21 CFR 880.5240), Class I.
How to use athletic tape?
Technique depends on the joint and is taught by an athletic trainer or clinician. For items a training room keeps on hand, see athletic training room equipment.
How to apply athletic tape?
Ask an athletic trainer or clinician and follow the product instructions; the 2025 trial applied rigid tape without stretch.
How to remove athletic tape?
Follow the product instructions for use.
Related supplies are in the medical bandages category.
Sources
- NFHS, Essential equipment for a secondary school athletic training facility, S. Scarneo-Miller, 1 Oct 2025: https://nfhs.org/stories/essential-equipment-for-secondary-school-athletic-training-facility (checked 2026-10-30).
- 21 CFR 880.5240, Medical adhesive tape and adhesive bandage: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/880.5240 (checked 2026-10-30).
- openFDA device classification API, regulation number 880.5240: https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json?search=regulation_number:880.5240 (checked 2026-10-30).
- Yorulmaz DK et al., Children 2025;12(11):1551: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12651496/, doi 10.3390/children12111551 (checked 2026-10-30).
