Netball Australia introduces new uniform policy ditching mandatory dresses

Aiming to reduce participation barriers and better protect players, Netball Australia has released an updated uniform policy that may see traditional netball dresses become a thing of the past.

Releasing more inclusive uniform guidelines that will come into effect as of 1st January next year, the Netball in Australia Uniform Guidelines cater for all participants of the sport and recognise the various individual preferences and religious beliefs of netballers.

Adopted by all eight state member organisations, the Guidelines outline recommendations for players and umpires at all levels of the game and provide the option to choose from a combination of uniform variations and have been created to recognise the various individual preferences and religious beliefs of players.

Optional uniform items, which will also protect players from all weather conditions, include a dress, singlet, bodysuit, short sleeve or long sleeve shirt, skirt, shorts and long pants.

The guidelines will be implemented at the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball pre-season competition the Team Girls Cup, giving the eight competing clubs an opportunity to introduce new uniform options for athletes.

Netball Australia Executive General Manager for Strategy, Government and Community, Glenn Turnor, expressed the importance of the revised guidelines, commenting “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 guidelines have been adopted by all Member Organisations, meaning all participating netball bodies will be united by the same national guidelines.”

Operations Manager for the AFL Wimmera Mallee and Horsham District, Jennie French highlighted the positive impact the uniform shift has had on those within their community, adding “we’ve seen people return to netball that had stopped playing because they weren’t comfortable.

“Numbers were declining in a lot of places, but this change has seen the return of some players to the region which has been fantastic. It’s given people the confidence to play in what they’re comfortable in.”

The move comes after NSW Netball led a push last year to review uniform guidelines following Netball Australia’s State of the Game review in 2020 that highlighted existing uniform options presented barriers to many wanting to take up or continue playing the game.

Click here to view the full Netball in Australia Uniform Guidelines.

Image: Sunbury Lions football netball Club.