When Coastal Cruisers Netball Club joined Ballina Netball Association in 2020, they took the opportunity to ensure players had uniforms options which allowed everyone to feel comfortable right from the start. Coastal Cruisers acknowledged that only offering the traditional playing dress was a significant barrier to participation for many within their community.
This opportunity was only made possible as a result of Ballina Netball Association adjusting their uniform policy in previous years to allow players and teams to wear a range of matching uniform styles on court.
The Coastal Cruisers Netball Club uniform still has a dress option but players also have the choice of wearing a t-shirt, both in a tight and loose styles paired with shorts, leggings, skirt or skort. The current uniform design is by local artist Kim Michelle Toft.
President of Coastal Cruisers Netball Club Helen Hanslow said
“we have a number of players who would not be playing netball if the only option was a dress. Player comfort, sun safety and reducing the cost for families were all part of the decision making process.”
Netball NSW have created a set of Inclusive Uniform Guidelines to help Associations and Clubs to ensure they are reducing barriers to participation and making netball a more inclusive and welcoming environment for people of all ages, gender identity and cultural backgrounds.
Check out the guidelines and find out more about apparel partner Valour Sport’s ONE TEAM range which supports the new guidelines HERE.
If you have a community story about inclusive uniforms to share get in touch with Netball NSW via community@netballnsw.com
