The Club was awarded a grant from Change Our Game for increasing female and non-binary participation in organised sport, changing the game for La Trobe University Hockey Club women and juniors.
Change Our Game is a rally cry to ignite an undeniable desire amongst non-binary people, women and men who want to see their sport and recreation activities prosper into the future. It is a Victorian Government initiative that seeks to implement recommendations from the Inquiry into Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation.
One of the purposes of the grant was to promote equal access and opportunities in sport. Female and non-binary participants face numerous obstacles that aren’t faced by other participants, and that can hinder their participation and enjoyment in sports. Challenges range from lack of role models, appropriate coaching, cultural and societal biases to economic barriers, limited access to facilities and programs.
The cost of sports equipment can be a significant barrier for all participants; costs are often higher for females and non-binary participants because of additionally required equipment such as sports bras.
HOW WE USED THE GRANT
We used part of this grant to give away sports bras to students in our seniors and juniors sections and to provide all members the opportunity to be fitted for a bra. We had an expert bra fitter come down to the Club rooms to make sure everyone who participated got a supportive fit and the correct bra size.
Everyone was invited to participate. We had twelve participants from all senior women’s teams and from the U16s, U14s, and U12s junior teams, and thanks to the grant, all received their new sports bra at no cost. Four participants had a bra fitting and purchased a sports bra at their own cost.
Participants had positive feedback about their experience and the Club is keen to run the program again. We hope to be able to ensure sufficient support for the program to enable more bra options to be available to suit more preferences and specific needs.
Some feedback we received from participants and their parents:
“Getting fitted for a bra wasn’t something I had done before. My bra size was completely different to what I was wearing.”
“I was so impressed with this initiative of our Club. Wearing a well fitting sports bra whilst playing a game such as hockey is so important…but unfortunately a low priority for many people. Even the messages about the initiative would have made others stop and think about what they were wearing during games. Targeting the juniors and younger players was perfect! Big well done to those who came up with this idea and made it possible.”
“It’s great to be able to get a comfortable bra. Good sports bras are so expensive.”
“Such a brilliant initiative from the Club. A real, positive demonstration of inclusive action. It’s always so uncomfortable having a bra fitted, especially for young kids, but having it done at the Club, with team mates, made it so easy. I and my kid should have done this ages ago but this made us act and what a fantastic result! And to be honest, for them to be free is just amazing and was a massive help for our family. Thank you so much.”
WHY SPORTS BRAS?
A good sports bra is essential for any female athlete, as the associated discomfort and pain from a poor sports bra stops females from participating in sport. Yet they can be expensive, and not something all individuals and families can afford. Sports bras cost from $75 – $150 for one bra. The amount of breast support needed varies with age, changing bra size and the type of exercise, which means that athletes need multiple sports bras throughout their sporting lifetime.
A recent study from Sports Medicine Australia found that 88% of female adolescents wore a sports bra that did not fit correctly. As breasts can be heavy, wearing the wrong bra can:
– Negatively affect confidence and athletic or sports performance
– Lead to breast pain, making activities such as running and jumping painful
– Strain the back and shoulder muscles, leading to headaches, discomfort and long-term musculoskeletal issues
– Cause uncomfortable chafing and skin irritation
– Cause traumatic knee injury such as tearing the anterior cruciate ligament; a study, published in the Journal of Applied Biometrics suggested the larger the cup size, the higher the risk of traumatic knee injury.
In addition to pain and injury reduction benefits, research shows wearing the right bra can:
– Reduce oxygen consumption when running, which in turn improves running economy
– Decrease ground reaction force i.e how hard your limbs hit the ground when you walk, run, jump
– Counteract poor posture caused by the breasts pulling the trunk forward (which can cause rapid fatigue when exercising)
– Allow longer strides to be taken when running
– Make athletes less distracted and more motivated to exercise.
We hope that the program provides all these benefits to our participants and that raising awareness of the need for good sports bras helps all our members participate fully and achieve sporting excellence. Although changing our game requires a multifaceted approach that tackles cultural, societal, structural and economic barriers, providing access to affordable and appropriate sports equipment, including high-quality sports bras, is an essential first step.
If you were unable to participate in our grant program and are struggling with finding the right bra, or are unable to afford the right sports bra, please contact our Inclusion Coordinator and we will assist in any way we can.