A new ergonomic PE kit has been designed to help encourage more teenage girls to participate in sports and stop them from dropping out. A study involving 2,000 girls aged between 14 and 16 revealed that three quarters would find PE more enjoyable if their kit was more comfortable. Additionally, seven out of ten said they would be more inclined to participate.
The prototype, titled the ‘Undropped Kit’, has been developed by sportswear giant ASICS, in collaboration with Inclusive Sportswear and mental health charity Mind. It aims to address the main issues girls face with their current PE kits. These issues include a lack of choice, uncomfortable materials, and shapeless designs. Other concerns relate to suitability for varying weather conditions, period-related worries, and issues with sweat absorption and visibility.
ASICS claims that the new kit prioritises comfort, choice, and confidence through its three versatile components, allowing girls to concentrate on enjoying physical activity.
The innovative kit has already undergone trials by students at Burnley High School, an area pinpointed by Sport England as having some of the lowest PE engagement rates nationwide.
Comfort is catered for with the inclusion of sprinter shorts which can be modified into a skort or looser shorts, depending on each girl’s preference.
The kit has been designed to endure ‘all’ weather conditions, boasting packable and water-repellent features. It includes a stowaway hood and a detachable top layer to accommodate varying weather conditions.
Taking into account different body temperatures, the kit comes with a removable inner liner that can be worn as a gilet, facilitating easy warm-up or cool-down.
The dark-coloured fabric helps hide potential leaks, with concealed zip pockets for tampons or valuables – addressing concerns about periods and storage.
A built-in emergency hair tie in the zip ensures that loose hair will never be a problem.
Issues with current kits being see-through and uncomfortable have also been tackled by using softer, sweat-wicking, darker fabrics. An elasticated bungee cord waist for a better fit also addresses the problem of baggy, shapeless kits.
Tess Howard, founder of Inclusive Sportswear and international hockey player for Team GB, said: “A PE kit is the most underrated reason girls drop out of PE, but the good news is we can fix it – and fast. Inclusive Sportswear is built to solve this issue by helping schools employ inclusive PE kit policy based on enabling choice and comfort.
“By listening to girls and evolving kit to support their needs, we can lift this barrier.”
Hayley Jarvis, head of physical activity at Mind, added: “We believe physical activity is a powerful protective factor for young people’s mental health.
“It’s deeply concerning to see so many teenage girls dropping out of PE in such big numbers. While the reasons are complex, simple changes like adapting PE kit could help girls feel more comfortable to stay active, giving them a lifelong tool to support their mental health.”
Parents and school staff are encouraged to join the Inclusive Sportswear Community Platform, gaining access to free expert training, toolkits and guidance developed with the Youth Sport Trust to create meaningful change and help more girls enjoy PE.