COLOURFUL UNIFORM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22983, 10 March 1938, Page 4

COLOURFUL UNIFORM

AMERICAN HOCKEY TEAM REVOLUTIONARY IN DESIGN ROYAL BLUE, RED AND WHITE When the members of the United States women's hockey team arrive in Sydney next month they will bring with them a new uniform which is revolutionary in design for international hockey. Koyal blue pleated skirts oi the design worn by tennis players, which the Americans call "tennis skirts,'' with white blouses, have been chosen by the United States Field Hockey Association for members of the team. The white blouses will be trimmed with red buttons and the national badge will be worn on the loft-lwind pocket. .Ill© blazers will bo of white flannel, and will also bo embroidered with the national badge. The. biggest innovation, so inr as Australians are concerned, will be the kneelength socks worn by the Ameiicans, instead of the stockings, which are an inviolable rule of the English and Australian associations. The Americans have certainly selected a colourful uniform, us the socks are red, and \\ill provide a striking contrast to their royal blue skirts. The president of the association, Miss Gertrude Hooper, who is a member of the team, says that they are delighted with the design selected and are eager to see themselves in it as a team. Australia's gold tunics, dark green blazers, dark green ties and girdles, and brown stockings and shoes have always been greatly admired, and the Australian team is invariably neatly uniformed. it is not considered that it will suffer by comparison with tho American's innovations. In warmer climates, such as Australia's it is possible that some agitation for a change in uniform will soon bo made. Some have already rebelled in conservative England, and the day of the tunic seems limited. These are days of freedom in sport. Tennis players began this urge for free movement in clothes which arc neat, practical and fashionable, and they were the first to | discard stockings. Games such as cricket ! and hockey need more protective covering on tho legs, and it is probable that I no vita] changes will be made in hockey | uniforms in Australia or in England for some years.