Uniform Inequity: Exploring the Impact of Athletic Outfits on Team Identity at Rowland Hall

New uniform day! Everyone lines up for their size, anxious to see what the new outfit they will be wearing for every game or match looks like. Girls’ tennis and boys’ golf do this every year; girls’ volleyball, girls’ soccer, and cross country every 3 or 4. This makes some question why some sports teams at Rowland Hall get brand-new uniforms every year while others have to wait years. As a result of these different cycles, some students such as Greta Filippone have expressed concerns over biases. But Zach Alvidrez assures students that the uniform cycle decision is based purely on the budget. Despite these financial constraints, for athletes, uniforms are more than just attire—they’re a symbol of Winged Lion pride, excitement, unity, and better performance. Yet, the frequency of receiving new gear varies, leaving some students like Chloe Vezina wondering if fresh uniforms make a difference or represent a type of certain sport favoritism. Do they enhance school spirit or team success, or is their importance overhyped? By looking into the perspectives of athletes, coaches, and Zach Alvidrez, this story will explore the impact of uniforms on team identity and discover the reasons behind the differing replacement cycles.

We asked former athletic director and girls’ volleyball coach Kendra Tomsic about the fall sports’ differing uniform-replacement cycles, and she said, “Boys’ golf and girls’ tennis get new uniform gear each year since they pay for their own uniform items and keep them at the end of the season. Other teams—like girls’ volleyball, girls’ soccer, and cross country—are on a 3-4 year uniform rotation cycle since their uniforms are NOT paid for by students and they do NOT get to keep them.” Kendra noted the price of uniforms and that “having a cycle of when each team is due for new uniforms helps to keep our athletics budget in line.” But what would the students prefer? Here’s what members of fall sports teams said when asked if they like the current uniform “rotation”:

“We would prefer getting new uniforms every year like tennis.” -  Meredith Maloy, Shaler Anderson, Lila Bates, and Chloe Vezina, class of  ‘27 girls’ volleyball members

“We want to allow people on the team to buy their uniform if they want to.” - Catie Seagrave and Luna Saad, class of ‘26 and ‘27 Co-captains of the brand new cheer team 

“I like having my own new golf uniform because you can wear them again after the season.” - Andrew Hanrahan,  class of ’27 boys’ golf member

The only different opinion was that of Juliana Ngo and Alexa Tracey, class of ‘27 girls’ soccer members, who said they prefer “new uniforms paid for by the school every 4 years.” Even though personally incurring costs, most of these sports members still would prefer an annual uniform refresh. Why is that? Why do people care so much about uniforms?

A general consensus among team members and faculty is that uniforms can give a team a sense of unity, connection, confidence, recognizability, and school pride, and they differentiate between teams, giving each an individual look as well as function. Research suggests that athletes actually DO play better with high-quality uniforms, aside from the popular notion that “If you look good, you play good,” as expressed by class of 2027 girls’ volleyball members Meredith Maloy, Shaler Anderson, and Lila Bates. Uniforms keep players motivated; they increase team enthusiasm and desire to win. Yet some sports don’t get fresh uniforms each year due to the multi-year cycles.

Currently, who decides on uniforms varies from team to team, deciding what uniforms look like and where to get them. Still, the results are in, and based on our survey taken by around 25 US fall sports team members and captains, most agree that student team captains should be the ones to make uniform-related decisions. Over 64% of surveyed student-athletes agree that captains are the best option to make these important decisions since they are more involved in the team, know preferences, have personal experience, and have an actual interest in looking good as opposed to coaches who might not have as much care or have other responsibilities that they prioritize. Since uniforms play such an important role in Rowland Hall’s teams, what do these uniforms look like? 

        

Each team has uniforms unique from each other but the same within the team, creating a unique identity for each team, and separating them from one another.  Elena Owens, ‘25 tennis co-captain, said that uniforms “give the team a sense of unity and also individuality of the team from different teams,” emphasizing the importance of uniforms in creating a unique identity for each team.

In conclusion, the varying frequency of uniform replacements at Rowland Hall raises questions about equity and representation in student athletics, highlighting the need for consistent support across all sports programs to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all student-athletes. While uniforms are a source of pride, unity, and identity for each team, the disparities in replacement cycles have sparked discussions among athletes regarding favoritism and inter-team spirit. As highlighted by the insights from team members and coaches alike, there is a shared belief in the importance of fresh uniforms for enhancing performance and motivation. Ultimately, empowering student captains to take charge of uniform decisions may foster a greater sense of community and ensure that all athletes feel valued and represented. As Rowland Hall continues to cultivate its sports culture, addressing these concerns will be essential in promoting fairness and enhancing the experience for all student-athletes in both fall athletics and other seasons. Uniforms are more than attire—they symbolize pride and unity. Empowering student captains to make these decisions could promote equity and community, ensuring all athletes feel valued and represented in our community.

Uniform Inequity: Exploring the Impact of Athletic Outfits on Team Identity at Rowland Hall
Izzy Utgaard

New uniform day! Everyone lines up for their size, anxious to see what the new outfit they will be wearing for every game or match looks like. Girls’ tennis and boys’ golf do this every year; girls’ volleyball, girls’ soccer, and cross country every 3 or 4. This makes some question why some sports teams at Rowland Hall get brand-new uniforms every year while others have to wait years. As a result of these different cycles, some students such as Greta Filippone have expressed concerns over biases. But Zach Alvidrez assures students that the uniform cycle decision is based purely on the budget. Despite these financial constraints, for athletes, uniforms are more than just attire—they’re a symbol of Winged Lion pride, excitement, unity, and better performance. Yet, the frequency of receiving new gear varies, leaving some students like Chloe Vezina wondering if fresh uniforms make a difference or represent a type of certain sport favoritism. Do they enhance school spirit or team success, or is their importance overhyped? By looking into the perspectives of athletes, coaches, and Zach Alvidrez, this story will explore the impact of uniforms on team identity and discover the reasons behind the differing replacement cycles.

We asked former athletic director and girls’ volleyball coach Kendra Tomsic about the fall sports’ differing uniform-replacement cycles, and she said, “Boys’ golf and girls’ tennis get new uniform gear each year since they pay for their own uniform items and keep them at the end of the season. Other teams—like girls’ volleyball, girls’ soccer, and cross country—are on a 3-4 year uniform rotation cycle since their uniforms are NOT paid for by students and they do NOT get to keep them.” Kendra noted the price of uniforms and that “having a cycle of when each team is due for new uniforms helps to keep our athletics budget in line.” But what would the students prefer? Here’s what members of fall sports teams said when asked if they like the current uniform “rotation”:

“We would prefer getting new uniforms every year like tennis.” -  Meredith Maloy, Shaler Anderson, Lila Bates, and Chloe Vezina, class of  ‘27 girls’ volleyball members

“We want to allow people on the team to buy their uniform if they want to.” - Catie Seagrave and Luna Saad, class of ‘26 and ‘27 Co-captains of the brand new cheer team 

“I like having my own new golf uniform because you can wear them again after the season.” - Andrew Hanrahan,  class of ’27 boys’ golf member

The only different opinion was that of Juliana Ngo and Alexa Tracey, class of ‘27 girls’ soccer members, who said they prefer “new uniforms paid for by the school every 4 years.” Even though personally incurring costs, most of these sports members still would prefer an annual uniform refresh. Why is that? Why do people care so much about uniforms?

A general consensus among team members and faculty is that uniforms can give a team a sense of unity, connection, confidence, recognizability, and school pride, and they differentiate between teams, giving each an individual look as well as function. Research suggests that athletes actually DO play better with high-quality uniforms, aside from the popular notion that “If you look good, you play good,” as expressed by class of 2027 girls’ volleyball members Meredith Maloy, Shaler Anderson, and Lila Bates. Uniforms keep players motivated; they increase team enthusiasm and desire to win. Yet some sports don’t get fresh uniforms each year due to the multi-year cycles.

Currently, who decides on uniforms varies from team to team, deciding what uniforms look like and where to get them. Still, the results are in, and based on our survey taken by around 25 US fall sports team members and captains, most agree that student team captains should be the ones to make uniform-related decisions. Over 64% of surveyed student-athletes agree that captains are the best option to make these important decisions since they are more involved in the team, know preferences, have personal experience, and have an actual interest in looking good as opposed to coaches who might not have as much care or have other responsibilities that they prioritize. Since uniforms play such an important role in Rowland Hall’s teams, what do these uniforms look like? 

        

Each team has uniforms unique from each other but the same within the team, creating a unique identity for each team, and separating them from one another.  Elena Owens, ‘25 tennis co-captain, said that uniforms “give the team a sense of unity and also individuality of the team from different teams,” emphasizing the importance of uniforms in creating a unique identity for each team.

In conclusion, the varying frequency of uniform replacements at Rowland Hall raises questions about equity and representation in student athletics, highlighting the need for consistent support across all sports programs to ensure fairness and equal opportunity for all student-athletes. While uniforms are a source of pride, unity, and identity for each team, the disparities in replacement cycles have sparked discussions among athletes regarding favoritism and inter-team spirit. As highlighted by the insights from team members and coaches alike, there is a shared belief in the importance of fresh uniforms for enhancing performance and motivation. Ultimately, empowering student captains to take charge of uniform decisions may foster a greater sense of community and ensure that all athletes feel valued and represented. As Rowland Hall continues to cultivate its sports culture, addressing these concerns will be essential in promoting fairness and enhancing the experience for all student-athletes in both fall athletics and other seasons. Uniforms are more than attire—they symbolize pride and unity. Empowering student captains to make these decisions could promote equity and community, ensuring all athletes feel valued and represented in our community.

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