In 2021, US popstar Pink offered to pay a fine imposed on the Norwegian Beach Handball team after they chose to wear bike shorts instead of the mandated bikini bottoms at the European championships. Pink argued that the Federation “should be fined for sexism”.

For many, this was their introduction to the idea that sports uniform design may not be as it seems, with the incident triggering a debate around freedom of choice and what is and isn’t proper.

At the grassroots level, participation rates for women and girls continue to rise rapidly and adjusting to the needs of this growing participation base is essential.

The stats paint a compelling case for change:

• 69% of active girls said they would continue playing sports if they could wear their preferred uniform
• 43% of active girls were self-conscious about what they were wearing because of the uniform.
• 25% of inactive girls across eight countries said they would start playing sports if they could wear their preferred uniform.

I’m speaking with Professor Clare Hanlon, a leading researcher who argues that respect is about giving choices and that women and girls must feel confident and comfortable stepping onto the field of play.

Clare is the Chair of the Susan Alberti Women in Sport at Victoria University, spearheading research that has prompted major sports and peak bodies to rethink their uniform policies, helping women and girls to optimise their performance and comfort levels.

Resources:

• Prof. Clare Hanlon | LinkedIn
• Sports Uniforms for Girls | PUMA & Victoria University
• Women in Sport | Victoria University
• P!nk's tweet | X
• Emma Pallant-Browne post | Instagram
• ‘Awesome outcome’: White shorts ditched for AFLW players to ease period stress | The Age

Walking in two worlds is a balancing act. In one world, you’re connected with mob, kinship and community obligations; in another, you’re engaged in broader Australian society and expectations. 

The challenge is real for First Nations people, especially for talented First Nations athletes aiming for a successful career in sport. It's also challenging for well-meaning clubs, from the grassroots to the elite level, who are sensitive to cultural diversity and want to do their best to welcome all their players.

I’m speaking with two Aboriginal women who have contributed significantly to community-led programs and shown the way for their communities as role models and leaders. 

In this episode, we're chatting with Jacara Egan, a proud Muthi Muthi and Gunditjmara woman based in Melbourne, in Naarm. 

Jacara is an Assistant Coach of the Essendon Bombers VFLW team and National Manager of First Nations Wellbeing and Healing at Headspace.

She’s a Change Our Game Ambassador, helping to level the playing field for women and girls in sports. She is an Australian Institute of Sport #ShareAYarn mentor where she meets with Australia’s top athletes to support their understanding of Reconciliation. 

Jacara’s diverse experiences in social work, mental health, education, leadership and sport have given her a unique mix of qualities that can benefit clubs and First Nations players as they navigate mainstream clubs and build their resilience to walk in two worlds. 

Resources:

• Jacara Egan | LinkedIn
• Share A Yarn | Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
• First Nations Australians | Sport Australia
• Steps towards reconciliation in community sport clubs | Club Respect
• Change Our Game | Victoria Government

“Nothing about us without us”. It’s an essential principle in community sport that is rooted in the idea that increasing the participation of an underrepresented group should not be forced or imposed without significant consultation.

This is definitely the case with programs and initiatives for First Nations people around the country, which are remarkably diverse, with their own culture, language, beliefs, and practices. A one-size-fits-all approach is unlikely to benefit anyone.

So, what are the essential first steps to increase participation and create a welcoming environment for First Nations people? According to Sport Australia, having community-led initiatives and healthy, active role models are critical first steps.

We're speaking with two Aboriginal women who have made significant contributions to community-led programs and who have shown the way for their communities as role models and leaders.

In this episode, we speak with Tahlia Taylor-Kickett, a role model and leader for the NT Yapas football team and mentor for elite athletes with the Australian Institute of Sport's (AIS) Share-A-Yarn initiative.

Resources:

• NT Yapas documentary | SBS On Demand [16 mins]
• Share A Yarn | Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)
• First Nations Australians | Sport Australia
• Steps towards reconciliation in community sport clubs | Club Respect
• Special thanks to Beki Smith, Adam Cassidy and Elaine Heaney for the introduction to Tahlia

The abuse of match officials continues to plague sport at all levels and every code.

It’s part of a deeply ingrained culture that is passed down from generation to generation. Kids are carelessly nurtured through years of observation, from having their parents lose the plot on the sidelines to spitting chips at the TV while watching their favourite team.

Over time, we may not realise, but we all have a choice:

• We can either go with the status quo, using our power to punch down on match officials and punch harder when they make a mistake. Or,
• We can acknowledge that match officials love the game as much as we do; they’re critical to everything running smoothly and, just like everyone else, make mistakes and learn from them.

So, what’s your choice?...

More info: 

• Contact Patrick on twitter or LinkedIn
• Patrick has written for Club Respect on the topic of match official abuse.
  1. The ‘Sport at the Crossroads’ series, in particular, gives us a candid glimpse into the way different sports are dealing with the issue.
  2. Patrick’s article titled ‘Sport’s ugly blind spot – abuse of officials’ is still the most popular post on our website.
• Books by Patrick Skene
  1. The Big O: The Life and Times of Olsen Filipaina, and
  2. Celestial Footy, The Story of Chinese Heritage Aussie Rules

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” This powerful quote is about the importance of making decisions guided by a set of values.

The values of a sports club aren’t always so clear. But we know that success is important and so is creating an environment for people to connect. It’s also a place to help people grow, to learn, and to understand the world around them.

A club with a culture of respect acknowledges that there will be differences of opinion and disagreements. They acknowledge that people have their own stories that are worthy of being told.

But there are some stories that don’t get told. The struggles of people who don’t find sport as inclusive or welcoming. Their stories are usually told through campaigns that raise awareness such as mental health, Pride in sports, First Nations culture, women in sports, anti-racism, and others.

In recent years, we’ve seen some of these initiatives fail. Ironically, for not respecting those who have opposing views. The example of the Manly Sea Eagles pride shirt and player boycott still strikes fear in clubs wanting to establish themed rounds. 

However, with genuine consultation, clubs can build knowledge from the ground up. They can demonstrate that the issue is important for the local community, their neighbourhood, and members. The ongoing nature of the consultation is what gives it credibility and it becomes the critical first step towards building greater advocacy.

In this episode, we’re shining the spotlight on the Balmain Tigers, an Aussie Rules footy club based in Sydney. They developed a campaign to increase awareness of First Nations culture and created the Pemulwuy Shield to honour the local Aboriginal warrior.

We speak with Daniel Bourke, who was an integral part of the formation of the Pemulwuy Shield and having it taken up as a permanent fixture in the Sydney AFL’s Indigenous Round.

A great motivator in his gym and footy communities and an active supporter of First Nations people and Recognition. Dan shares his insights into the development of the Pemulwuy Shield.

• Dan Bourke's Instagram
• Balmain Tigers launching the Pemulwuy Shield along with the Uluru Statement from the heart - AFL Sydney video [1:37mins]
• Balmain Tigers Australian Football Club (Pemulwuy Shield)
• The Australian Wars (SBS On Demand) - Rachel Perkins journeys across the country to explore the bloody battles fought on Australian soil and the war that established the Australian nation, seeking to change the narrative of the nation

Abuse on social media is a growing issue for athletes and sports brands. According to Australia’s eSafety Commissioner: 

• Online abuse is often racist, with first Nations players three times more likely to be targetted with online hate.
• Women were more likely to receive misogynistic abuse that is often sexualised and violent, with much of it going directly to a players personal pages.
• LGBTQI folks and people with a disability are 3 times more likely to be targeted.

While social media has enabled people from all walks of life to speak up, it’s also, paradoxically, suppressing these varieties of voices, with many removing their online presence or at least modifying their content to fall in line with standards that generate less hate.

In this episode, we speak with Matt Von der Muhll about how to tackle this problem using the power of Artificial Intelligence. He works with Respondology, an online platform that connects with social media profiles to automatically hide abusive posts before they can be seen by the public. 

Big sporting brands such as FIFA, Premier League, NBA and other leagues and associations are all grappling with the negative impacts of online abuse to their players and brand image. Marketing staff at these organisations are continually subjected to abuse which requires constant vigilance and valuable time spent hiding and deleting abusive comments and images. 

We want to truly understand why people direct abusive comments online and to change the behaviour along the way. But in the meantime, the unregulated “wild west'' of social media rages on. So, how can we shield players, clubs, leagues and associations from harmful comments that can negatively affect personal brand, reputation, livelihood, and mental well-being?

More info: 

• ‘A really ugly playing field’: How tech is tackling online trolling of athletes (Cara Waters, Sydney Morning Herald)
• Matt Von der Muhll's LinkedIn 
• Respondology website
• Safe on Social: Education and Consulting website (Kirra Pendergast)
• Special thanks to Iain Roy from SIGPA for introduction

Are ethnic clubs good for football? Can AFL still capture the multicultural market, or have they missed the boat? Can cricket shake its title of being pale, male and stale? How are these sports helping marginalised and multicultural communities to play the sports we love?

We speak with Nick Hatzoglou, a road-warrior in the community sport development world, having held significant community-focused roles with Cricket Australia, the Australian Football League and Football Victoria.

As a leading practitioner in creating diverse and inclusive clubs, we hear from Nick as he shares his insights, successful club stories and case studies.

“An environment that is free from harassment, bullying, degrading, or intimidating behaviour.” That’s the aim of Basketball South Australia who believe there’s absolutely no excuse or circumstance to act poorly towards others on or off the court.

State sporting associations hold a precarious position in Australian sports. They oversee and administer their respective sports from the top, but often lack the resources to ensure messaging and program take up at grassroots level. A predominantly volunteer workforce takes up this challenge, so the communication from the state sporting associations needs to be detailed, yet easy and compelling to implement.

Be A Good Sport is Basketball South Australia’s flagship program outlining the standards and acceptable behaviours in stadiums across the state. 

In this episode we speak with Basketball South Australia's Operations Manager, Jacqui McConville, about the tinderbox atmosphere of Basketball and how leagues and associations around the state are taking a unified stand against anti-social behavoiur.