Uniforms that encourage girls to play sport and be active

On this page

• Research purpose
• Research methodology
• Key findings
• Why is this important?
• Research summaries

Research purpose

This research was to identify which uniforms make girls feel comfortable and confident when playing sport. After 3 State Sporting Associations (Swimming Victoria, Netball Victoria and Cricket Victoria) encouraged associations to change their policies, follow up research was conducted to understand the effects of these changes. The research was undertaken by Victoria University, funded through the Change Our Game Research Grants Program.  The effects of sport uniform policy changes was released in March 2022.

Research methodology

A total of 312 girls (12–18 years) in Victoria completed a survey in 2020 to share their thoughts and beliefs about sport uniforms.

A follow up sample of 44 girls and women who changed their competition uniform as a result of amended uniform policy/regulations completed a survey to share their thoughts.

Key findings

Girls identified 6 key uniform needs

1. Uniforms that make them feel ready for sport
2. Clothing that fits them well
3. Dark coloured bottoms
4. Uniforms made from appropriate materials
5. No unisex clothing
6. Do not want to feel over-exposed in their uniforms

Different preferences for different groups

Not all girls are the same and some groups of girls have different uniform preferences. Different options could be critical for non-active girls to feel comfortable in order to begin engaging in sport.

• Active girls (those who play sport) have higher functional and aesthetic body image satisfaction, and are happier to wear whatever is required to play compared with non-active girls.
• Girls who are non-active, from culturally diverse backgrounds, and/or identify as LGBTIQ+ want a range of sport uniform options to choose what makes them feel comfortable and confident.
• Girls who played team sports (netball, AFL, basketball) and/ or girls who engaged in lifestyle activities (jogging, gym, cycling): prefer wearing shorts and singlets, as opposed to shorts and t-shirts.

Where changes were made to sports uniforms

• 48% agreed they were encouraged to stay in the sport
• 48% agreed that the change removed barriers they had associated with enjoying the sport
• 41% more girls and women felt confident
• 30% less girls and women felt self-conscious

Why is this important?

Body image plays a key role for girls to participate in sport and physical activity – uniforms are an important influence.

Research has identified that some girls (14–16yrs) do not want to participate in physical activity because they feel embarrassed or feel they are putting their bodies on display, and they do not meet society’s beauty standards.

Another study identified girls aged 14 years have 27% less confidence than boys the same age (YPulse, 2018). Girls need sport uniforms that make them feel comfortable, confident and ready to play sport and physical activity.

Read our research summaries