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Limitless is passionate about encouraging participation with the right sports kit and has been working hard to ensure that every person is offered the right kit for them, inspiring them to be as active as possible. They are actively partnering with leaders in the field and have launched new ranges to maximise inclusivity.
As part of their drive to understand why young people stop participating in sport and how the right kit can help, Limitless partnered with the Youth Sport Trust in 2021 to conduct a detailed research project across independent schools, looking at sports participation, the drivers and barriers.
“There is a significant drop off in participation for girls after puberty.”
The research showed many trends and patterns, most of which are also reflected in the state school sector. The most obvious result was that there is a significant drop off in participation for girls after puberty while boys remain at a similar level. In terms of drivers for participation, having fun and being healthy were stronger motivators for girls than winning. Girls are less happy with the amount of physical activity they do than boys but they do understand the importance of physical activity.
The top barriers to participation for girls included self-consciousness, lack of confidence and period worries, all of which can be addressed through the kit they are asked to wear. Puberty drives physiological changes in girls which make sport less comfortable (growing breasts) and more difficult (menstruation). To support girls to be active and enthused by sports, it is therefore clear that they need both the right environment and the right kit.
Limitless believes that everyone should have a choice, to ensure they are as comfortable as possible with what they are wearing. Whether that’s a skort, shorts or leggings, it shouldn’t matter. Trying to enforce a sportswear uniform which puts girls in sports kit that they wouldn’t wear, if given a free choice, is likely to turn more girls off sport and deny them the formation of a lifelong healthy lifestyle.
“Girls need both the right environment and the right kit.”
In the wider sporting world, we have seen the Lionesses influence the change from the white shorts of the England kit to blue, and making the best possible impact on the world of football, wearing them in a World Cup Final. England Hockey saw the first female hockey players playing for their country in shorts during the summer; not only that, but the team were able to choose which they felt more comfortable playing in: shorts or a skort.
They also made the semi-final of the EuroHockey Championships 2023. There are numerous examples of female teams starting to make their choice known and it is only right that this also starts at school, where many future stars are inspired by sport.
As a result of the research in 2021, Limitless changed the way they make kit and the way they offer it to schools. The Limitless Team aren’t driven by tradition or rules. They understand that the right sportswear isn’t just about style; it’s about unlocking potential and building confidence.
“England Hockey saw the first female hockey players playing for their country in shorts this summer.”
A consistent visual identity is only part of what makes a team work, and high performance is only delivered when everyone feels comfortable. Limitless is committed to providing a choice of kit so everyone can focus on their game and enjoy taking part.
Limitless now:
- Ensures garments can be cross sport and are not overtly gendered by design – this allows for a gender-neutral position on sports, allowing pupils to play a wider range of sports in comfortable kit, and brings consistency to the playing field regardless of which sports are being played.
- Offers girls choice between shorts, skorts, and leggings – confidence and comfort for every individual is paramount. Some girls actively want to wear a skort, for example, as they feel the skirt provides some additional modesty; others may which to wear shorts as a more unisex and less stereotyped option. Still others, particularly for religious reasons, will feel most comfortable in leggings.
- Takes into account physiological differences between boys and girls, including considering menstruation when choosing kit colour – for example, navy bottom halves rather than full cricket whites.
- Providing a sports bra as a standard piece of sports kit – the importance of a sports bra cannot be overstated, yet 50% of all teenage girls don’t wear one for sport. A well fitted and well-designed sports bra should be added to kit lists and encouraged to support breast health and reduce self-consciousness.
Limitless’ mission is to encourage every young person to stay active, healthy and happy. Please visit limitlesskit.com to find out more.
https://www.schoolblazer.info/sportswear