There’s no skirting around the issue — Bowls Australia has adopted a more relaxed approach to uniforms as one of several strategies to address declining rates of women participating in the sport.

The move earlier this year came as part of a partnership with the Australian Sports Commission on a broader, long-term project to develop a framework that would help sports determine planning gaps, areas for improvement, and trends and opportunities in relation to women’s involvement and participation in particular sports.

Bowls Australia is one of two national sporting organisations trialling the Australian Sports Commission’s Women in Sport framework, and took its first steps by conducting research and holding two workshops with bowls stakeholders in 2006 to discuss the issues.

Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple said the organisation gained a number of insights as a result of these processes.

‘Among them was times of play, the style of play and the specific needs of different parts of the community such as working women, families and students,’ he said.

‘Basically we identified that pennant format has to suit the lifestyle needs of the younger generation. Tuesday pennant is just not suitable for working women. We need to review playing times to reflect the needs of a cross-section of society.’

Dalrymple said another factor to emerge was the dress code. Lawn bowls has long been known for its strict dress code, which on occasion has required skirts to be measured for length below the knee. In a 2006 Senate inquiry into women in sport and recreation, Bowls Australia submitted that the sport’s dress code often did not work to attract younger women to the sport.

Bowls Australia’s research showed that three-quarters of the surveyed non-bowlers said that by relaxing dress regulations, they would consider becoming involved in the sport.

‘We now have a new national uniform policy that aims to market a more relaxed approach to uniforms which is representative of all demographics, particularly females,’ Dalrymple said. ‘What we’re looking for is simply 'sociably acceptable' bowls attire.

‘State and territory associations have moved towards this in the main, but there is still a need for club-level reform. In some areas clubs are resisting the new direction, but we are continuing to work on communication strategies to address this.’

In May this year world champion bowler Julie Keegan was told to change out of her Bowls Australia/Bowls Queensland-sanctioned ‘skort’ (a cross between a skirt and shorts) because an umpire felt it was too revealing. Keegan complied, saying she needed to keep her mind on the job, but the media response was ‘overwhelming’.

Dalyrmple said he was a little surprised by the umpire and media reaction, but Bowls Australia would continue to encourage Keegan and other players to wear the range of clothing as long as they are comfortable.

‘This is part of the evolution and change that is occurring in bowls in this area. It is inevitable that we will encounter some resistance to the relaxed dress standards, but the new range of clothing is making significant inroads in the market place,’ Dalrymple said.