Tackling barriers: How England is trying to keep women and girls in sport

Key Concepts

• Women's Rugby Growth: The success of England's Red Roses in the Rugby World Cup is driving interest in women's rugby, with a goal of 100,000 female players by 2030.
• Barriers to Female Participation: Traditional perceptions of rugby as a male sport, safety concerns in public spaces, and inadequate changing facilities in schools are significant deterrents.
• School PE Disengagement: A notable drop-off in physical activity occurs between primary and secondary school, particularly among female students, due to disengagement, anxiety, or lack of enjoyment.
• Changing Facility Anxiety: A quarter of secondary school girls have skipped PE due to anxiety about changing facilities, highlighting the need for more private and comfortable spaces.
• "Big Sister Project": A UK charity initiative pairing leisure centers with girls to provide girl-led physical activity sessions, aiming to counter the myth of teenage girls' aversion to exercise.
• Girl-Led Activities: Empowering girls to lead their own sports sessions fosters confidence, leadership skills, and social interaction, making physical activity more enjoyable and less intimidating.
• Holistic Well-being: Addressing barriers to women's and girls' participation in sport is crucial for fostering a physically and mentally healthier society.

Summary

Driving Female Participation in Sport: From Elite Success to Grassroots Engagement

The recent Rugby World Cup victory by England's Red Roses has significantly boosted the profile of women's rugby, with the sport's governing body aiming to increase female participation from 60,000 to 100,000 players by 2030. This surge in interest, however, highlights persistent challenges that continue to deter women and girls from engaging in sports.

Overcoming Perceptions and Creating Inclusive Environments

The Hackney Glades, an inner-city London rugby club founded in 2010, exemplifies the growing interest, reporting 25 new sign-ups in its first month following the Red Roses' success. This influx has necessitated existing players stepping into coaching roles. A key challenge for new female players is the mental shift required to embrace the power, strength, aggression, and competitiveness valued in rugby. Public understanding of women's rugby still lags, with common misconceptions questioning the legitimacy and physicality of the women's game. As one player noted, "I mean, whenever I play it, I get asked questions. Oh, is it proper rugby? Is it is it contact rugby? Things like that. And they're always a little bit hard to summon."

The Impact of Environment on Participation

Research indicates that women feel twice as unsafe as men in public parks for sports activities, citing concerns about being watched, judged, harassed, and a lack of adequate facilities like toilets and changing rooms. These environmental factors significantly influence women's willingness to participate.

The School-to-Adulthood Transition in Physical Activity

A strong correlation exists between an adult's relationship with physical activity and their engagement in sports during school years. A critical juncture is the transition from primary to secondary school, where a noticeable drop-off in physical activity occurs among female students. This disengagement can manifest as truancy from Physical Education (PE) classes, often with fabricated excuses, disruptive behavior leading to exclusion, or passive participation without enjoyment.

Reimagining School PE and Changing Facilities

Year 9 students (aged 13-14) acting as sport leaders identified several areas for improvement in PE. These include offering more enjoyable sports beyond traditional options like football, basketball, and rugby, and crucially, addressing issues related to changing facilities. Anxiety around changing is a significant barrier, with some students wearing PE tops under school uniforms to avoid changing. One student shared, "I used to struggle a lot with just not participating in PE because I didn't want to get changed or I didn't feel comfortable to get changed."

The current changing room setup in many schools is inadequate. A typical changing room might be expected to accommodate 60 people (30 per side) in approximately 10 minutes, with some students having as little as 5 minutes due to late dismissal from lessons. This leads to rushed, cramped conditions where students feel uncomfortably close to each other. Some resort to hiding to change, demonstrating the profound anxiety associated with these facilities. Research by the Sweaty Betty Foundation found that a quarter of secondary school girls have skipped PE multiple times due to anxiety surrounding changing facilities.

In response, one school in Southwest England participated in a competition to redesign their changing facilities, winning $3,000 towards an upgrade. The student-designed model incorporated individual changing rooms and murals, aiming to create a safe and protected space for students.

The "Big Sister Project": Empowering Girls Through Sport

Outside of formal education, the UK charity Women in Sport has partnered with 100 leisure centers to implement the "Big Sister Project." This initiative offers girls an alternative to the structured environment of school PE, providing physical activity led by girls for girls. Launched nationally last year, the project has attracted 7,000 members, with the charity subsidizing half the cost.

The project empowers girls to take leadership roles. Eleven-year-old Poppy, leading a session, enjoys being in charge and making decisions about sports, music, and exercises. While a qualified fitness instructor ensures safety, the girls are the primary leaders. This model fosters new friendships, social interaction, and confidence. Participants like Ellie, Ivy, and Jess prefer these sessions to PE, finding them more enjoyable and less judgmental. They highlight the pressure and perceived favoritism towards "sporty girls" in school PE, contrasting it with the supportive and inclusive atmosphere of the Big Sister Project.

Conclusion: A Call for Action for a Healthier Society

The consensus among participants is that addressing the barriers preventing women and girls from participating in sport, whether through traditional team sports or alternative activities, is essential for building a physically and mentally healthier society.