International Hockey Federation Introduces Gender Equality Rule Change for Female Players

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has made a major shift in policy to give female players more choice with their kit.

The FIH has now amended its rules to allow players to choose between a skirt, a skort – a skirt with shorts attached underneath – and shorts, as long as they are the same colour and design.

Before this amendment, skorts and shorts were allowed by the FIH but not a combination of both in one team. This rule had been causing problems for many female hockey teams, as the uniforms they wore on court lacked freedom of expression and comfortability due to their restrictive nature.

The change has been welcomed with open arms by many female athletes, with Great Britain captain Hollie Pearne-Webb leading the charge. “We are really pleased with today’s news that we will have freedom of choice over the kit we wear in international competitions,” said Pearne-Webb.

The rule-change is expected to be implemented worldwide for competitions such as the FIH Pro League, Olympic Games and World Cup. The move shows a commitment from the FIH to help create an inclusive environment for female hockey players, allowing them to compete in attire that closely reflects their individual style and preference.

The new rule is undoubtedly a step in the right direction towards gender equality within sports and will likely pave the way for similar changes in other disciplines. It is also a big milestone for female sport and champions the power of unity as athletes from all over the world come together to advocate for a more equitable playing field.

As quoted by Pearne-Webb, “Hockey should be accessible, enjoyable and welcoming to everyone so I hope this decision will make a lot of female players and their families happy, both in the present and for the future.”