WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
It’s important that initiatives don’t just offer access, but address girls’ concerns
to England Football, it all tails off substantially afterwards. Under half of senior schools give their female pupils the same chances to play football as the boys in timetabled PE lessons. So, the real work needs to happen from year 7 upwards. Older girls are at risk of dropping out of sport altogether. While the lack of opportunities is a factor, it’s just one among many concerns. A poll showed that four in ten teenage girls who really enjoyed sport at primary school had lost interest and confidence. They worried about being judged, about body image – many were put off by being watched by others. Given these findings, it’s important that any initiatives don’t just offer access to sport, but address girls’ concerns at the same time. Take clothing: a major turn-off for girls is being forced to wear clothes that can feel uncomfortably tight-fitting or revealing. One survey found that when girls could wear whatever they liked, participation increased noticeably. Making girls feel more comfortable about taking part in sport is only part of the solution. Another aspect is making women’s sport more visible. As the saying goes: if you can’t see it, you can’t be it.
62 AUTUMN/WINTER 2022
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