A significant change of netball’s uniform regulations has taken place in Australia as part of a new initiative to lower barriers to participation and make the sport more inclusive. Players will have more options starting on January 1 for what they can wear underneath their positional bibs, including dresses, singlets, bodysuits, short- or long-sleeve shirts, skirts, shorts, and long pants.
As the sport works to include players from all backgrounds, the new Netball in Australia Uniform Guidelines are made to recognise the many personal preferences and religious views.
Netball is currently the most popular team sport in Australia, with over 1.2 million men, women, and kids participating nationwide. Additionally, it is the most popular sport among Australian girls. Its popularity is also on the rise when it comes to sports betting, and this is evident since it features prominently in this list of Australian bookmakers‘ betting options, including bet365.
Netball Australia’s executive general manager for strategy, government and community, Glenn Turnor says, ‘Netball is ever evolving, and we need to reflect this in all aspects of our game, including uniform choices. This process has been a joint effort with our member organisations, their boards and their chief executive officers, whereby we collectively identified barriers to be removed from netball. We are excited to implement these inclusive uniform guidelines going into 2023 and ensure that everyone can feel comfortable playing netball.’
The Team Girls Cup, a preseason event for Suncorp Super Netball in 2023, will see the implementation of the rules and provide the eight participating clubs the chance to try out new uniform options. Eleanor Cardwell of the Adelaide Thunderbirds, Jo Harten of GIANTS Netball, Helen Housby of the NSW Swifts, and Geva Mentor of the Collingwood Magpies are among the England internationals who play in Australia who will gain from having more options for their playing attire.
With Manchester City becoming the latest Women’s Super League club to discontinue wearing white shorts owing to period concerns in October, netball is not the only sport to have embraced modifying uniforms for the comfort of participants. Members of the England women’s squad have also voiced their concerns to Nike, the company that makes their uniforms.
All eight of Netball Australia’s member organizations have accepted the revisions to the uniform rules, and several say they have already noticed a difference in the participation of players at the grassroots level.
