Girls can benefit from sport in so many different ways, if the provision is right for them.
The Women in Sport charity aims to ensure that everyone can benefit from sport.
In its latest report, released on 2nd April, it found that girls-only sport is critical to participation. In England, 24% fewer girls than boys actively participate in team sport, meaning hundreds of thousands of girls are missing out on benefits that include confidence, self-belief and a sense of camaraderie that comes from being in a team.
Of the 13 sports the charity analysed, only 1 in 6 opportunities to play sport were just for girls and only 20% of team sport opportunities were for girls alone. Even though having mixed sport sounds laudable, the report found that girls do not thrive here; they need physically and emotionally safe spaces to play and feel fully engaged.
Girls-only options are crucial
The research highlights that girls often benefit from sports opportunities designed specifically for them – and around two-thirds of parents value girls-only options in sport across ages, too.
For girls who have taken part in sport with peers from similar backgrounds, the report found that engagement deepens, motivation rises and dropout rates reduce. In practice, this means schools could consider offering girls-only sessions alongside mixed programmes. This could create safe environments where girls feel confident to learn, lead, make decisions and take risks on the sports field.
Practical considerations for schools
Schools can consider the following to engage more girls in sport:
- Conduct a quick sport provision audit. List sports, details of how to join in and whether offerings are mixed or girls-only. Identify where gaps exist and set measurable targets to increase girls’ access.
- Offer flexible pathways. Create easy entry points (lunch clubs or after-school activities) that reduce barriers to participation and build confidence.
- Invest in female leadership. Provide coaching development and mentorship that supports female coaches and role models – and develop leadership opportunities for girls within teams.
- Engage families and communities. Share clear information about girls-only options and the benefits of participating in sport to maintain parental support.
Next steps
By going as far as giving girls’ sport equal priority to boys’ activities, schools can actively contribute to building girls’ confidence, self-esteem and life skills. Having a range of activities where everyone can participate and excel in a safe environment opens up the experience to more students who, in turn, can all gain from taking part.
Read the Tackling the opportunity gap for girls in sport report here
References
- Tackling the opportunity gap for girls in sport. Available from: https://womeninsport.org/resource/tackling-the-opportunity-gap-in-sport-for-girls/ (Accessed 8 April 2026)
