Lewes cricket club uses black kit for girls period worries

Lewes Priory Cricket Club made the move to an all-black kit across its junior teams in April, as playing in white clothing can be a barrier for girls.

Girls and women had been wearing dark colours since last year – but when playing in mixed games, they were once again in white. So, the decision was taken to create one kit across the board.

“It seemed a pretty logical step to move to one kit, one colour, for one club,” said Kevin Ives, the club’s chairman.

“It’s hard to say but there are lots of teams that play in colour kits – but whether they’ve done that for exclusivity reasons, in encouraging girls to play mixed cricket – I haven’t come across that anywhere else in the country.

Lewes Priory U12s

“It’s more the reason for doing it that’s unique.

“It’s been hugely positive. People love playing in kits that look good and make you feel part of the team – so for all number of reasons it’s gone down well with kids and parents.”

Ives said that girls and women in cricket is seeing a huge rise, and that 40 per cent of his club’s membership is female.

“What tends to happen is the older they get, the more they drop away,” he said.

“It’s a much better ratio down at the under 10s level – but as they get to teenage years it starts to drop off.

“That’s one of the main reasons for doing this – to help girls as they move through their early teenage years.”

Many different sports in which women wear light coloured kits have recently come in to focus.

The Telegraph reported that England women football team are exploring the idea of swapping white shorts for a darker colour, with player Beth Mead saying: “It’s nice to have a white kit, but it’s not practical when it’s the time of the month.”

Campaigners are also due to hold a protest outside the Wimbledon ladies single final in support of players calling for the all-white dress code to be scrapped.