When the London Mavericks stepped onto court this season, it wasn’t just their passing and shooting that drew attention – it was what they were wearing. Skirts, skorts and leggings have quietly begun to replace the customary netball dress, signalling a shift that goes far beyond fashion. Across England, players at every level are questioning long‑standing kit rules and asking whether what they wear helps or hinders their performance, confidence and inclusion in the sport. From body image and religious considerations to performance technology and player choice, netball’s wardrobe rethink is raising fundamental questions: who is the game really dressing for, and how much does a uniform shape who feels welcome on court?
Evolving netball uniforms and the push for player centred design
Across training courts and televised arenas, designers are starting to treat kit as performance technology rather than a rigid tradition. Clubs are working with athletes to test fabrics, trial silhouettes and tweak details like waistband height or seam placement, turning feedback sessions into genuine collaboration instead of a token consultation. The focus is on fit, function and freedom of movement: breathable materials that handle sweat under TV lights, cuts that prevent gaping when jumping for interceptions, and options that respect religious needs or body image concerns. For many players, the ability to choose between skirts, skorts, shorts or leggings is no longer a fashion question, but a conversation about dignity and staying in the sport longer.
This shift is also quietly redrawing who feels welcome in netball. Coaches report fewer dropouts among teenagers when kit rules become more flexible, while community clubs say new designs help attract players from backgrounds previously put off by the traditional dress code. The new brief for manufacturers is clear: build around the athlete, not the archive. That means:
- Choice of silhouettes – mix-and-match pieces for different comfort levels.
- Inclusive sizing – cuts tailored for a wider range of body shapes.
- Technical fabrics – moisture-wicking, opaque and durable under contact.
- Cultural sensitivity – designs that work with modesty requirements.
| Design Feature | Player Benefit |
|---|---|
| Leggings option | Warmer muscles, more confidence in movement |
| Adjustable waistbands | Better fit during high-intensity play |
| Longline tops | Extra coverage without restricting reach |
Performance comfort and body confidence driving kit innovation
Across training courts and televised fixtures, London Mavericks athletes are quietly rewriting what a “proper” netball kit looks like. Performance staff talk about fabrics as much as footwork, focusing on pieces that let players jump, pivot and dive without worrying about hemlines riding up or waistbands digging in. New silhouettes are road‑tested in match‑intensity drills, with players feeding back on how garments behave under pressure. That insight is shaping a move away from one‑style‑fits‑all dresses towards mix‑and‑match options-skirts, skorts and leggings-that still meet elite performance standards while responding to how athletes actually move and feel.
This shift is also about how confident players feel on court, especially under HD cameras and social media scrutiny.Coaches and designers report that when athletes know their kit won’t reveal more than they intend, they are more willing to contest balls, chase loose passes and take aerial risks. To capture that, the Mavericks’ design brief now centres on:
- Coverage without compromise: cuts that protect modesty but preserve full range of motion.
- Inclusive sizing and fits: allowing different body shapes to select what feels secure and flattering.
- Thermal comfort: layering options-like lightweight leggings-that manage temperature in long seasons.
- Psychological edge: colours and lines chosen to empower, not expose.
| Kit Option | Key Benefit |
|---|---|
| Skirt + shorts | Traditional look, added security |
| Skort | Streamlined, low‑distraction fit |
| Leggings | Warmth, coverage and muscle support |
Inclusive options skirts skorts and leggings reshaping team identity
For the Mavericks, swapping a single, fixed dress code for a mix of skirts, skorts and leggings is less about fashion and more about what it signals: that every body and every background belongs on court. Players talk about kit not as a vanity choice, but as a form of identity politics in polyester – a visible challenge to dated assumptions about what “female” sport should look like. Coaches report that once athletes can choose what lets them move and feel most secure, confidence spikes and the team’s visual brand subtly shifts from uniformity to unity. Sponsors, too, are taking note, seeing a modern, values-led image that resonates with younger fans and parents wary of outdated expectations placed on girls in sport.
- Body autonomy: athletes select coverage and fit that suit their own comfort levels.
- Cultural sensitivity: options allow players to align kit with religious and cultural norms.
- Performance focus: when players aren’t distracted by what they’re wearing,game IQ and intensity rise.
- Brand evolution: a more flexible kit becomes part of a progressive club identity.
| Kit Choice | Key Benefit | Identity Signal |
|---|---|---|
| Skirt | Traditional look | Link to netball heritage |
| Skort | Hybrid comfort | Bridging old and new |
| Leggings | Full coverage | Modern, inclusive stance |
Within the squad, these choices are reshaping the internal hierarchy of who feels “allowed” to take up space. Younger players arriving from school teams that enforced a single dress code describe a quiet relief at being offered genuine alternatives. Veterans, meanwhile, say the shift has prompted candid conversations about body image, religion and injury history that had never surfaced in the changing room before. In this way, the redesign functions as a social blueprint as much as a kit list: a subtle rebranding of the Mavericks as a club where identity is not ironed out by uniform, but stitched directly into it.
What clubs coaches and brands should prioritise when redesigning netball kits
For the next generation of players, the kit has to work as hard as the athlete. That starts with comfort and performance. Breathable,sweat-wicking fabrics and flat seams reduce irritation during four quarters of high-intensity movement. Stretch panels around the hips and thighs support fast changes of direction, while adjustable waistbands and inclusive sizing ensure that skirts, skorts and leggings stay in place without digging in. Coaches and brands are also under pressure to prioritise body confidence: players must be able to bend, jump and lunge without worrying about exposure. That means testing designs under match conditions, consulting athletes of all ages and body types, and dropping the one-style-fits-all mentality that has dominated for decades.
- Function first – fabrics that breathe,stretch and recover
- Inclusive fit – cuts for different body shapes,not just scaled sizes
- Choice of coverage – skirts,skorts,shorts and leggings all on the table
- Psychological safety – designs that reduce self-consciousness and distraction
- Sustainability – materials and production with a lower environmental footprint
| Priority | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Comfort | Improves focus and reduces injury risk |
| Choice | Respects player preference and culture |
| Performance | Supports speed,agility and endurance |
| Identity | Reflects club values and fan connection |
| Longevity | Cuts replacement costs and waste |
The Conclusion
As the Mavericks and their Super League rivals experiment with skorts,leggings and looser silhouettes,netball is quietly redrawing the boundaries of what a “proper” kit looks like. For some, it is indeed about modesty; for others, performance or sheer personal preference. But together, these shifts point to a sport increasingly willing to listen to its players and audiences – and to reflect the realities of the people who step onto court each week.
Whether the new designs become the norm or remain one option among many, the direction of travel is clear: comfort, choice and inclusivity are no longer fringe considerations, but central to how netball presents itself.In reshaping its uniform, the game is also reshaping its image – and, possibly, who feels that there is a place for them within it.
