Leagues support ‘choice’
Inclusivity is at the root of the region’s netball leagues and Netball Victoria initiatives to broaden uniform options for all 2023 players.
Netball clubs now have an option to offer their players an official set of club-coloured shorts and singlet, along with a traditional netball dress, as part of an initiative to help all playing and aspiring netball players feel comfortable in their playing attire.
Netball Australia’s updated uniform guidelines for the 2023 season, as endorsed by Netball Victoria, have confirmed the uniform change for all participating netball leagues and associations.
The guidelines state that clubs and associations ‘must approve the uniform’ of a player if they are wearing a dress, singlet, bodysuit, long or short-sleeved t-shirt, shorts, skirt, or long pants, as long as they still adhere to team colour and design requirements.
Horsham District Football Netball League netball director Sharon Fedke said the uniform changes had been considered for ‘a long time’ among netball circles.
She said the new uniform options were a chance for clubs to reduce the reluctance of many eager netballers who were keen to join a team, but because of the dress-only options, had not.
“The league is trying to be more inclusive, and some people just didn’t want to step onto the court because they were uncomfortable wearing the
dress – they just wanted other options,” she said.
“For people reluctant to play, hopefully it gives them a few more reasons to join a team.”
Last year, before the sweeping 2023 uniform guideline change, Netball Victoria had provided its affiliate leagues with sample bylaws that gave them a choice heading into the 2022 season.
Netball Victoria government relations and affiliate services general manager Amanda Basu said the association’s sample bylaws, which
she had recommended its affiliated leagues adopt, allowed ‘choice’.
“We want our game to be the most inclusive game out there, so the freedom of choice for individuals to play in something they’re comfortable in just opens up our game to such a bigger audience,” she said.
“It also helps with the retention of girls and boys who might walk away from the sport because they don’t feel comfortable.”
Ms Fedke said she had not heard any negatives about players wearing alternative uniforms on the court, but she was open to people voicing their views.
Wimmera Football Netball League netball director Toni Stewart said netballers playing within the Wimmera league in 2022 also had an opportunity to wear an alternative uniform that year after the league’s bylaws were amended.
“It is something clubs need to support. If it is stopping a player from playing, and we know that it does for a variety of reasons, then these players need to be able to have a choice on what they play in,” she said.