Girls uniform change in Youth Premier League

CV will purchase dark coloured pants and make them available to all girls competing in this summer’s Youth Premier League in January.

The Youth Premier League (YPL) is the state Under 15 competition, involving over 200 girls from across Victoria.

A 2021 Victoria University sport participation study of 300 Victorian girls aged 12-18 found access to coloured pants, shorts or skirts was a key factor in their involvement.

The research also found the nature of sporting uniforms played a critical role in girls feeling confident about their participation.

Cricket Victoria’s Head of Female Cricket Sharelle McMahon initiated the change.

“This is an important but simple step we can take towards reducing the barriers for cricket in participation for girls,” McMahon said.

“The feedback we’ve had from our participants and coaches in the YPL is that this is an area of understandable concern for players in these age groups. We want all our participants to feel confident, comfortable, and able to play their best without having to worry about the colour of their uniform.”

“There is also a broader opportunity for Victorian cricket as well. While we know some clubs and associations have already made this change, we’d certainly encourage others to consider making the switch from wearing traditional whites for women and girls cricket,” McMahon added.

The YPL has a strong connection to regional Victoria with the intention of providing players with the same opportunities across Victoria – regardless of their postcode.

The competition runs on the 4th, 9-12th and 14th of January 2023.