A South Australian netball association changed its uniform policy in 2024 after a young player missed a game because she did not want to wear a dress. The Mid South East Netball Association, based around Millicent, began allowing approved shorts or leggings as alternatives to dresses and skirts.
What prompted the change?
Kongorong player Ashleigh Elletson told ABC News that she felt uncomfortable in a dress when she moved into a competitive grade at 13. She missed a game before the association made an exception that let her return. Its wider policy then gave other players an option without needing the same individual exception.
The 2024 report said shorts and leggings had to use a club design approved by the association and have no zips or pockets. The association also allowed soft head coverings for religious reasons. These details matter: a player cannot assume that any pair of shorts will meet a competition's uniform rules.
How does this fit the national guidance?
National guidelines, effective from January 2023, list dresses, shirts, skirts, shorts and long pants among possible uniform items. They say clubs and associations must approve team uniforms, which should share a colour or design and leave the positional bib visible. The national guidance created room for choice; the local association's decision put that choice into practice for its competition.
The ABC reported that association president Sara Gray hoped the change would help more people play. That was a hope, not a measured increase in registrations. The account shows a more immediate result: Ashleigh was able to return to the court in clothing she felt comfortable wearing.
That distinction matters beyond this league. A national guideline can offer options, while a local club and association still approve a team's actual design. The 2024 report does not confirm what every South Australian competition permits today. Players and families should ask before ordering a new kit.
What should a new player check?
If a dress has kept you from trying netball, use KeepActive to find netball near you, then contact the club before buying a uniform. Useful questions include:
- Which shorts, leggings, shirts or head coverings are approved for this team and grade?
- Must the alternative match the club colours or design, and who signs off on it?
- Are there safety details, such as the local 2024 rule against zips and pockets?
- What registration and uniform arrangements apply to a new player?
These questions do not assume the 2024 Mid South East rules still apply unchanged. If a club has not yet approved an option, ask how it can raise a proposed design with the association.
