By Tate Papworth
The Westside Saints Netball Club have broken a long held netball tradition and created a piece of history in the process.
The Saints, a representative team out of the St Albans Caroline Springs Netball Association have become the first in the state to do away with skirts in favour of shorts.
Tracy Wallace helped lead the way on the initiative and said it was a long time coming.
“We started designing the shorts about six months ago with manufacturer BLK, had samples made and had the girls try them on,” she said.
“We actually had to go to Netball Victoria to change bylaws, which they were really good about … there were no problems there.”
The shorts were debuted last Tuesday night and Ms Wallace said there was a strong reaction.
“There were lots of people looking in shock when they saw them,” she said.
“The main comment was that it looked like we were wearing training attire … that’s the idea, it makes sense to train in the same sort of gear you play in.”
Ms Wallace said more clubs will follow the Saints’ lead.
“I guarantee that within 12 months others will start wearing them,” she said.
“They’ll let the dust settle, then they’ll them roll out … especially when the Suncorp side the Queensland Firebirds wear them this year.”
