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Abby Hoffman’s entry into the world of competitive sports came at the age of nine. Cutting her hair made it possible for her to join a boys’ hockey team as Ab in 1956. Her team did so well that they made it to the playoffs where players were required to produce their birth certificates. When it was discovered that Ab was really Abigail, the league was outraged. This was to be her first experience of the limitations placed on females who want to participate in sports.

Please refer the Abigail Hoffman’s bio at: http://www.collectionscanada.ca/women/h12-231-e.html

Unlike the Abby Hoffman’s story female athletes today are the norm instead of the novelty. The female registrations in several sports such as Hockey, Soccer and Ringette are rising at incredible rates. Mixed gender teams are more popular than ever before.

With mixed gender situations comes some controversy in terms of privacy. Male coaches, parents and other players can infringe on the privacy of the female players. Most teams now have female supervisors for the dressing room to alleviate some of the concerns. However this issue is always makes it inconvenient for those who need to get into the dressing room.

Many parents have already experienced the segregation of their daughters. When girls decide to join a boys team they are often sent to a different room from their team. Such rooms as the boiler room, equipment room, referee’s room, hallways or stairways all serve as extra dressing rooms for the segregation of the girls. It is very disturbing to see this as these girls are so desperate to play hockey they are forced to compromise their time with their team.

Tara Hannigan owner of Athena Sports Gear is one such parent. To ease these mixed gender situations Hannigan designed a ‘dressing room uniform’ for her daughter. These ‘undergear’ garments are suitable as street clothing as well as under the equipment. This was the conception of Athena Sports Gear who now designs female athletic undergear for all ages.

Girl teammates should be in attendance in the team’s dressing room in order to promote team spirit. Now there is a solution for female athletes to be technically and appropriately attired before they don their uniform/equipment for whatever sport or team they choose– whether it is male or female dominated. Any interested parties can walk freely in and out of the dressing room without jeopardizing privacy.

Other advantages of using appropriate technical ‘undergear’ such as Athena Gear are drier clothing, which in turn keeps the equipment drier, decreased odor, wear and tear and bacteria growth on the equipment. Athletes who experience chaffing and heat rashes may also benefit from full coverage undergear.

The many advantages of a ‘dressing room uniform’ is a win for the coaching staff, parents and other interested individuals who need to be in the dressing room at one time or another, and a win for the player whose comfort and privacy is not compromised.

Article printed in the Edmonton Sports Newspaper February 2005.