Basketball Ireland has provided clarity to rules around shorts ahead of the new 2023/24 season, which means that dark coloured shorts can be worn alongside a team’s designated ‘light’ playing kit, with a view towards easing period concerns for those involved in the sport.
Teams have traditionally worn predominantly a light colour as their away uniform and a dark colour as their home kit to avoid colour clashes, however clubs and teams at all levels, regardless of gender, can wear darker coloured shorts that do not need to match the singlet of their registered light kit.
“Period anxiety is a topic that has come to the fore for all National Governing Bodies and we felt it was important to give clarity to teams and players ahead of the 2023/24 domestic season,” said Erin Bracken, a Basketball Ireland Women In Sport representative.
Basketball Ireland provides clarity to rules around shorts ahead of 2023/24 basketball season to help ease period concerns.
Clubs and teams at all levels, regardless of gender, can wear darker coloured shorts that do not need to match the singlet of their registered light kit.
— Basketball Ireland (@BballIrl) August 16, 2023
Bracken, who also plays for MissQuote.ie Super League Side Leixlip Amenities Liffey Celtics, added, “We hope this change will make women participating in basketball more comfortable, allowing them to focus on playing the sport they all love.”
Ireland women’s captain, Edel Thornton, added, “This news is really important for all female athletes within our basketball community. It relieves a potential source of stress or anxiety throughout an athlete’s preparation for a game and during the game – in particular for the younger girls in our community. I am delighted to see female health being discussed and considered by Basketball Ireland.”
Basketball Ireland CEO, John Feehan, said, “ We want participation in basketball to be as inclusive and stress-free as possible for players at all levels and this is another step in that process. It’s my hope that our international teams will be able to follow suit in future and we are currently liaising with basketball’s world governing body, FIBA, to that effect.”