Sunshine and sport are two key components of Australia’s national identity. Participation in sport often begins in early childhood and can become a life-long commitment. Involvement in outdoor sports can significantly contribute to lifetime ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure, and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. Australia stands atop the podium for the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
A systematic scoping review of the current literature regarding sun protection in sports within the Australasian region was performed. High to extremely high levels of UVR exposure [range 1.15-21.5 standard erythema dose] were recorded in sporting environments. Sun protective practices in most outdoor sports was inadequate compared to current sun safety guidelines. Observational and self-reported use of sun protective clothing and sunscreen coverage by participants was low in sporting environments, with only 2 out of 7 (29%) sports with data in these categories recording adequate to high levels of sun protection. Many compulsory uniform and safety standards do not comply with the current Australian standards for sun protective clothing. There is considerable variability across different sporting codes and a paucity of comparable sun protection data. Many high participation sports in Australia were not represented in the available literature.
Importantly, implementation of sun protection policies in sporting organisations can positively change sun protection practices. The influence of sporting environments can extend outside of their respective arenas to the wider community. Further research and involvement of key stakeholders will guide policy development and guidelines for sun safety in sport.