Over the weekend, the Camogie world was in the global spotlight as players, first from Dublin and Kilkenny and then more, challenged the sport’s mandatory skort rule, reigniting debates about athlete autonomy and bringing politicians into the discussion.

In the Leinster Senior Championship semi-final at St Peregrine’s GAA club in Blanchardstown, both teams took to the field wearing shorts instead of the required skorts—a skirt-short hybrid mandated by Rule 6(b) of the Camogie Association’s code.

Referee Ray Kelly informed the teams that the match would not proceed unless they changed into official attire. By rule, he could have shown each player a yellow card for the rule infringement and a second yellow if they had refused to change.

After a brief delay, the players complied to avoid cancellation, but that was only the beginning of the storm that erupted.

Dublin captain Aisling Maher expressed her frustration on social media, pointing out that in no other area of her life was she forced to wear something that she felt was uncomfortable and impractical.

24 hours later, the Laois U20 team also took to the pitch wearing shorts, as they are allowed to do in training, and a similar delay ensued before they changed.

By this time, Senator Evanne Ní Chuillin, Tánaiste Simon Harris, and Chair of the Oireachtas Committee responsible for Sport had publicly expressed concern that the players were not being listened to.

A recent survey by the Gaelic Players Association (GPA) revealed that 70% of inter-county camogie players experience discomfort wearing skorts, and 83% prefer to have the option to wear shorts. Concerns cited include exposure during play, anxiety over period leaks, and body image issues.

The Camogie Association focused on a celebration of the Allianz Camán to Croker initiative yesterday when 64 clubs and 1,500 players took to the field in Croke Park.

They did, though, issue a statement afterwards saying that player welfare is a priority and announcing the formation of a working group to test new skort designs for comfort and performance.

This does not address the core issue of player choice, however, and while the argument of those who support the retention of skorts remains that it is part of the unique tradition of the sport, the tradition also includes playing 13 -a-side on smaller pitches and wearing ankle-length skirts.

Helmets were never a part of the uniform, until they were and it seems inevitable, and right, that shorts will similarly come into the game.

Look around on any training pitch, and you will not see a skort being worn with any degree of frequency.  They are also an added expense and a barrier to those who might otherwise want to play.

At the 2024 Camogie Association Congress, motions to allow shorts either as an option or a replacement for skorts were defeated. Under current rules, the issue cannot be revisited until 2027, though the pressure being applied may change that in the shorter term.

Similar concerns were expressed about the wearing of white shorts in football, rugby, and ladies’ gaelic football, and that led in many cases to darker shorts becoming the norm without the attendant publicity and fuss.

Hockey was in a similar position with tradition coming up against player demands but the Federation Internationale de Hockey changed to allow the wearing of skirrts, skorts or shorts so long as they were in the same colour and same design as the team kit.

News outlets in Britain, Australia and the US will move on, and so too must the Camogie Association.  This does not look like going away until change is made.

 

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SPORT FOR BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE

Tradition is an important part of the sporting story but the reality is that things move on in keeping with the development of society.  It is an outdated argument to suggest that the skorts which bear no resemblance to the team kits of old are in some way a link to the roots of the sport.  Helmets have been introduced, the ball, the hurls, the number of players and the size of the pitch have all changed, and if this is a barrier to more women and girls enjoying the fun of the sport as they did at Croke park yesterday then it should be a simple change to offer the choice.

WHAT’S UP NEXT?

The Provincial Championships at inter county, as well as club matches across the country will continue in the coming weeks with more protests likely to take place.

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