Hollie Pearne-Webb, the team captain, and Nick Pink, the chief executive of GB Hockey, penned a letter to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) in April. This followed England Hockey’s decision to revise the national kit regulations.
The International Hockey Federation recently updated its rules, giving female hockey players a wider variety of kit options. The new amendment permits players to choose between a skirt, a skort (a skirt with built-in shorts), or shorts, provided they maintain uniform colour and design.
Prior to this, the FIH allowed the use of skorts and shorts, but a mix of these was not permitted within a single team.
Hollie Pearne-Webb, the captain of Great Britain’s team, hailed the rule change as “a significant step forward in women’s sport.”
“We’re thrilled with today’s announcement that allows us the freedom to choose our preferred kit for international competitions,” Pearne-Webb remarked.
A study conducted in April by England player Tess Howard discovered that gendered kits, such as skirts, have a significant influence on teenage girls discontinuing their involvement in sports.
Pearne-Webb further expressed, “We should be proud that we, and the future generation of athletes, can choose the kit that gives us the most comfort.”
England Hockey has already adopted inclusive regulations regarding the playing-kit, claiming these “mirror and represent our game’s diverse participation and our nation.”
This modification follows a recent update to England’s football kit for the Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand this summer.
Due to concerns related to menstruation, the Lionesses will be outfitted in blue shorts instead of the usual white.
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5 comments
Well, it’s about time they made these changes. Everyone should feel comfrtable while playing, ain’t that right?
Awesome! More choice for the players. Hope this helps in retaining young girls in sports. Props to Hollie and Nick for pushing it.
Does anyone really care what they wear? I mean, they’re athletes, not models. Just play the game.
As a mother of a teen hockey player, I’m so happy to hear this! My girl will love the option to choose.
I just can’t wait for the day when we don’t have to celebrate such small changes, y’know? Like, it should have always been this way.