Netball gets set to relax archaic uniform rules to ‘let people play in what they’re comfortable in’

The tight-fitting Lycra dress could soon be consigned to history as netball’s strict uniform rules get set for a massive shake up to ensure the sport is a game for all.

The tight-fitting Lycra netball dress could be going the way of the dinosaur - at least at the amateur level - with Netball NSW overhauling archaic uniform rules to ensure the game remains accessible to every segment of the community.

Inflexibility around uniforms has proven to be a barrier to many taking up netball, or continuing their involvement in the game, especially girls and boys entering puberty and women returning to the game after childbirth.

It’s an issue that was highlighted in last year’s State of the Game review led by former Diamonds captain Liz Ellis and taken up by Netball NSW and their apparel partner Valour Sport under their One Team initiative.

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Netball NSW are set to overhaul their uniform rules with apparel partner Valour Sport.

Alongside the traditional dress, the new apparel incorporates a range of singlets, T-shirts, long-sleeve tops, shorts and compression wear to provide the netball community with a range of on-court options.

“Uniform is one of those things that can be a real unconscious way of keeping people out of the sport,” Ellis said.

“If you let people play in what they’re comfortable in and what suits their religious beliefs, their social belief or their gender, then you open your sport up to so many more people.

“More people playing at grassroots means more registration fees coming in, potentially more bums on seats at Super Netball games, more eyes on TV.

“So I think it’s a really smart move that’s a low-cost move to the organisation.”

Netball NSW boss Tain Drinkwater said all participants in the game should be supported in wearing a uniform that allowed them to play in a comfortable manner.

“Contrary to popular belief, the rules of netball do not indicate that a registered playing uniform must be a dress,” Drinkwater said.

“The key aim of this is to make sure we advance our position as a sport for people not just of all cultural backgrounds and gender identities, but all shapes and sizes, too.

The traditional netball dress is likely to remain the uniform standard at the elite level.

“It is clear that rigidity when it comes to clubs only allowing dresses is holding back our participation numbers.”

Ellis said anything that kept people in the sport was a good idea.

“There’s a market out there that wants to be sold to and they’re not being sold to at the moment,” Ellis said.

“I think anything that keeps people in sport (is a good idea).

“I think we’re well past the days where everyone has to have exactly the same uniform and the same undies and the same socks.”

Drinkwater said Netball NSW was encouraging all affiliated clubs and associations to embrace flexibility in their uniform policies.

“In many ways this is a watershed moment,” Drinkwater said.

“Netball has been the leader in so many areas, but not when it comes to widening its appeal beyond traditional bases. It is time to change that.”

Originally published as Netball gets set to relax archaic uniform rules to ‘let people play in what they’re comfortable in’