Netball was recognized as an official sport in the year 1901, however, the sport was played for years prior to this. It all came about when women in England had a desire to play basketball. They tied a paper bag to a broomstick and started playing, but soon realized that their attire was making it near impossible to play the game. This lead them to create netball uniforms. These uniforms were ideal for young women and gave them more freedom to move around than the floor length dresses did. They also has more freedom with upper body movement since they no longer had to put up with the leg of mutton sleeves that were worn by ladies in that century.
The ladies uniforms implemented a drastic change in their dress code as compared to covered up attire that they were accustomed to. They created box tunics that went far below the knee and their leg of mutton sleeve tops were replaced with cotton shirts with still collars, much like a man’s collar. To keep their skin covered and their legs warm, the completed the uniform with wool stockings
This uniform was used for 30 years before it was changed. During this time, it was agreed that the uniform should consist of a blouse, pleated skirt, with matching bloomers and sports shoes. Years later the uniform evolved with the times and as the skirts in those times got shorter, so did the pleated netball skirts. The bloomers were also replaced with sports shorts and wool socks and stockings were replaced with the more breathable cotton socks.
Another decade had past until the uniform was changed yet again. The tunics were replaced with sports shorts and the blouses with a polo. The bib which was also added made it easier for people to identify the players. Throughout the next three decades the netball uniforms underwent further changes. The shirts became very tight at one point and time, and gradually became looser as the decades went by, until the 1990s when they became over sized. The 90s also brought about a change in netball uniforms for the Australian National league’s uniform. It is now made to resemble a bodysuit and the bib features an overhaul with press studs for easy change overs.
