Girls' teamwear!

We are Girls in Sport and Little Big Sports created a girls’ sportswear store so that girls and their teams can find everything they need to be sporty in one place.

We are Girls in Sport and Little Big Sports have launched a Teamwear page so that we can fulfil your girls’ teamwear requests with our ever-growing list of female-focussed brands.

Quick recap first.

Why does female-specific sportswear matter?

Girls’ and women’s sportswear is important because…

• It actually fits female bodies. Believe it or not, men and women, boys and girls have different shaped bodies and different physical requirements for the clothes they wear while being active. In the past, girls and women had to wear small sizes of men’s sports kit but now, there’s a new generation of brands designing for active women and girls.

• Kit that fits means that girls feel comfortable, and confident in what they’re wearing. And that means they’ll play, run, swim at their best, helping them achieve their potential.

• Elite, female athletes have been shouting about the sexualisation or inappropriateness of their sports kit. But now that brands are engaging with female athletes, both elite and grassroots, and discovering what they actually want and need from their kit, sportswear is becoming more practical and functional for high-performance, whilst still being stylish.

OK so why does sports teamwear matter, for girls and boys…

Why does sports teamwear matter?

Sports teamwear matters for … Belonging

Belonging is a very important emotion in human nature but possibly one that you take for granted if you’re close to your family, or your version of a family; if you have a close group of friends; and, of course, if you’re a member of a sports club or team.

Feeling as though you belong boosts self-esteem and confidence: you have a group of people who have your back, through highs and lows, good times and bad times, and, of course, wins and losses.

Teamwear can help to bring a team together. You’re all dressed in the same colours and the same look, which is bonding, building camaraderie and galvanising a group.

Image Jeffrey Lin via Unsplash

Sports teamwear matters for … Identity

This is an obvious one but if two football teams are playing against each other, say, they need to know who’s on their side quickly and easily. Teamwear creates identity and let’s you know who to pass to!

But it can also form part of who you are, your own identity. “Who do you play for?” “Who do you support?” Your sportswear can demonstrate your club affiliation and make you feel part of the club.

Sports teamwear matters for … Pride

How many players do we see kissing or touching the badge on their kit? Is your favourite colour that of your own kit or your local club? The teams that we support and play for can be a source of pride for us and teamwear can help us demonstrate that pride!

And teamwear doesn’t have to stay on the pitch, field, court or pool. Teamwear can spread into other merchandise or spirit wear so fans and players can show off their top club, team or player all the time.

Why does sports teamwear matter for girls?

Girls’ sportswear, we want to shout about it but, yes, times are changing, thank goodness: we love all the brands that are designing girls’ sportswear for girls. They’re taking girls’ body shapes and different requirements into consideration, finally. No more boys’ hand-me-downs; no more boys’ sportswear just in smaller sizes; and no more boys’ sportswear in pink!

We are Girls in Sport and Little Big Sports created the store so that girls can find designed-for-them sportswear in one place. A Girls Sports Superstore where we stock the brands that have girls’ sports needs front and centre, making it easier for you to find kit that fits and that helps you perform at your best. We care about offering inclusive sportswear that gives girls choice so that they can show up as themselves, express their identity in their sport and so perform at their very best.

And now onto why it matters that girls’ teamwear is available.

We know that teamwear can give athletes a sense of belonging, identity and pride but for girls it can give them so much more.

Image - Canva

Sports teamwear matters for girls … Safety in numbers

Research tells us that girls can feel self-conscious when they’re being active. There are many reasons why girls can feel this way from having their period, to their performance and of course, including what they’re wearing. Katie (Little Big Sports) and Caroline (We are Girls in Sport) believe that girls should be able to train in whatever makes them feel comfortable – pyjamas, that old t-shirt with the holes that feels really comfy, some old trackie bottoms – but for some girls, being dressed alike can be a huge comfort.

Safety in numbers, not standing out, blending in – some girls prefer it this way and will perform better when they’re less distinctive.

Sports teamwear matters for girls … less competition in the locker rooms

This applies to boys and girls but a uniform, albeit for sport, means that there’s less competition between team members on what they’re wearing. Who’s wearing the most up-to-date kit? Who’s added something to their look which makes them perform better/look better?

A team kit means that everyone is wearing the same or similar sportswear and so the competition stays in the game and not in the changing room.

Sports teamwear matters for girls … girls have more choice!

Male athletes’ teamwear is fairly formulaic; maybe that will change over time but we know that men and boys tend to wear shorts and a t-shirt of some sort be that a football shirt, rugby shirt or running vest. Girls have more options and considered teamwear allows sports clubs and teams to offer that choice and demonstrate their inclusive approach to sport.

Here’s an example: Team GB and gold-medal winning hockey player Tess Howard campaigned for her teammate hockey players to be able to wear skorts as well as shorts. This may sound like a small difference but for Team GB women’s hockey it was really important. Previously, the team could all wear skorts or shorts but they couldn’t mix and match within the team; you couldn’t compete with some wearing shorts and others wearing skorts.

Tess was successful in her campaign and now Team GB doesn’t mind which are worn. The team looks like a team thanks to the colours and the Team GB badge. They still look unified but the female athletes have more choice. They can play in whichever style they prefer, be that choice based on look, comfort or performance.

And by really thinking about your girls’ teamwear, you can make them feel considered, welcome and able to reach their potential.

So head on over to our Teamwear page to kit out the girls in your team… and let us know what else you might need!