West Brom women’s team switch from white shorts to navy to ‘focus on performance without added anxiety’ of periods
West Bromwich Albion’s women’s team will switch to navy shorts to get rid of the anxiety of having to wear white while on their period.
They will wear the new home kit for the rest of the season and beyond after consultation with the whole squad.
Captain Hannah George praised the club for supporting the change to darker coloured shorts.
“Representing the club professionally and looking smart in the kit is really important to us,” she said.
“This change will help us to focus on our performance without added concerns or anxiety.”
Albion play in the Northern Premier division of the FA Women’s National League, the third tier of the game.
Head coach Jenny Sugarman said it was important to make any change, no matter how small, to help her players perform at their best.
“I’m proud the club have supported the decision to switch to navy shorts for our female players,” she said.
“It’s another sign of the continued integration of the women’s team across the club and recognition of a progressive and inclusive culture.”
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The change comes after England’s Euro-winning team raised similar concerns over the colour of their own shorts.
Beth Mead said in July: “It is very nice to have an all-white kit but sometimes it’s not practical when it’s the time of the month. We have discussed it as a team and we have fed that back to Nike.”
There’s also been talk about the issue with regards to Wimbledon’s strict all-white kit policy, with a small group protesting outside the club ahead of the women’s final this year.
Former Olympic tennis champion Monica Puig has also tweeted about the “mental stress” of wearing white at the tournament and “praying not to have your period during those two weeks”.
