While not being urged to avoid competition, women had few opportunities to compete in sport in Australia until the 1880s.

They came up with several recommendations regarding what sports were and were not appropriate for girls to play based on the level of fitness required.

It was determined that for medical reasons, some girls should probably not be allowed to participate in tennis, netball, lacrosse, golf, hockey, and cricket.

Sports which were medically appropriate for all girls, so long as they were not done in an overly competitive manner, were swimming, rowing, cycling and horseback riding.

Women's sport organisations had largely remained intact and had held competitions during the war.