Despite the growing momentum in womens sport, women and girls remain underrepresented in sport. There are simple and small things your sport can do that will make a big difference to getting more women and girls involved. Building partnerships with the local community and providing activities that are relevant to them is a great start. This includes building partnerships, understanding women and girls and promoting and providing a welcoming experience.
Evaluation of the Everyone Wins program found that competition structures can be a barrier to women and girls participation in some sports.
It is important to know what impacts upon women's lives and influences them in their decisions around participating in sport. One way to find out what inspires women and girls to get involved is to talk to women and girl members within and around your sport. Ask them what you do well, and what could be improved.
As well as having a chat to women, talking to families and the local community will provide further insights. The following resources can guide you through this consultation process.
TheVicHealth Physical Activity Across Life Stagesfact sheets provides information about the barriers and motivations of women and girls to participate in sport, across a range of life stages.
Participation in a range of roles
Women and Girls participation goes beyond just playing sport. Women can be great leaders, coaches, officials, umpires, team managers, trainers etc. Having women in leadership positions is good business for your sport. Consider ways to support and encourage women to be active in these non-playing roles in your sport (for more information see theLeadershipsection).
Step-by-step guide
Talking with families and the broader community can also provide helpful insights. For practical tools and ideas to support this consultation process, check out VicHealth’sstep-by-step guide to get more women active, which outlines evidence-based actions to break down barriers and get more women and girls participating.
Forming partnerships with local organisations that connect with women and girls helps engage women in your sport, promote activities, and support delivery of your women and girls participation activities.
Potential partner organisations may include community health organisations, maternal and child health organisations, women’s business networks, not-for-profit organisations, your local council, schools, or your State Sporting Association.
TheVicHealth Partnerships Analysis Toolcan assist you to form strong partnerships. Here are some examples of clubs forming partnerships to increase women and girls participation:
Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) - Girls Multicultural Netball Team
Many women and girls don’t see sporting organisations as welcoming and inclusive to them. For example, VicHealth research shows that only 31% of mums feel that sporting organisations are welcoming to them.
You can make your sport or organisation more welcoming to women and girls by:
Promoting to women:Sports use many communication channels. These include websites, newsletters, social media, flyers and other promotional materials. Use these channels to show women and girls that your sport is welcoming to them and has activities that would suit them. In many cases, these communications will be the first information they see about your sport organisation so you’ll need to make a positive impact. (For more information see theFacilities and accesssection).
Coaches, officials, instructors, and facilitators:Make sure coaches have the skills, ability and understanding to welcome and accommodate women and girls in your sport.
Welcoming officers:Clubs could nominate someone who’s role is to personally welcome and support new women and girls participants. The Healthy Sporting Environments program showed that 67% of sport clubs have a welcoming officer to support new members. Check out this example from St Kilda Cycling Club.
Social activities. Ensure the social aspects of your sport or organisation include activities and events that make everyone feel comfortable and welcome, regardless of their background. VicHealth research shows that women feel that social interaction makes physical activity and sport more enjoyable.
Leadership:Get your leaders, including committee members, coaches and others, to lead by example and create a culture that supports women’s participation (for more information see theLeadershipsection).
Family-friendly:Think about ways you can provide a family-friendly environment for women with children and include their partners and children in club activities. For example:
Encourage families to invite their wider family to social events and to watch games.
Hold dedicated events during the school holidays
Make sure the bar or alcohol is not the central or key focus of any social event.
