As the strategic lead for sport and physical activity across the county, Active Lancashire plays a vital role in helping young people overcome the barriers to getting active. Through school partnerships, community initiatives and targeted programmes, Active Lancashire works to ensure that all girls, regardless of background or ability, feel inspired, included and supported to take part in sport. By promoting equality, celebrating female role models and encouraging positive experiences with physical activity from a young age, Active Lancashire continues to drive lasting change across the region. Our SPAR Lancashire School Games t-shirt sponsor, Spencer Clarke Group, have helped us to develop a quick guide which details how to encourage more girls to take part in school sports.
Taking part in school sports and activities helps nurture children’s confidence while supporting their physical wellbeing. However, for young girls the pressure to take part in sports activities can be overwhelming and therefore, it’s important to ensure that all children and young people feel comfortable taking part in PE.
According to the Youth Sports Trust, by age 7, girls are already less active than boys and this disparity widens as they move from childhood into adolescence. Research by Women in Sport found that 64% of girls drop out of sport before they turn 16, and with girls either losing interest in sports or struggling with a lack of acceptance, it’s important to make them feel empowered and change their attitude towards physical activity.
Getting young girls active and interested in sport can be difficult, but it’s by no means impossible. There are many ways to increase female participation in physical activity so girls of all shapes, sizes, abilities and backgrounds feel included and motivated to take part.
Throughout this blog from education recruitment agency Spencer Clarke Group, you’ll discover how schools can encourage more girls to take part in sports.
What are the barriers for girls taking part in school sports?
Statistically, girls are less likely than boys to be active and more likely to disengage with sport or drop out of sports by their teenage years.
A report by the Youth Sports Trust found that the older girls get, the less confident they are as 86% of girls aged 7 to 8 enjoy PE, compared to 56% of girls aged 14 to 15. It’s not just that boys are more likely to play sports than girls, their attitudes differ when it comes to sport and physical activity, and girls face more barriers when it comes to participating in school sports.
Girls are less likely to enjoy or participate in sports for a number of reasons such as low confidence, concerns about body image and negative attitudes towards sport.
During the teenage years, young girls become more self-conscious about their body image and appearance which can deter them from participating. According to Youth Sports Trust, 46% of girls aged 14-15 report a lack of confidence stops them being more active at school compared with 26% of girls aged 7-8.
According to Youth Sports Trust, 62% of girls want to be more active in school but there are also other barriers that stop them taking part such as having their period and being watched by others. Despite a significant number of girls recognising the importance of an active lifestyle, this increase in self-awareness can reduce their enjoyment and willingness to take part in sports.
Research by Women in Sport revealed that when being active, 45% of teenage girls feel they don’t have the right body shape, 50% don’t like getting hot and sweaty and 61% feel like they’re being judged.
All of this can reduce their enjoyment and willingness to take part as even those who are interested in playing sports at school face barriers to participation and enjoyment. This includes a stigma and stereotypes around girls being competitive, strong or taking sport seriously.
What are the benefits to encouraging girls to take part in school sports?
Exercise and physical activity is crucial and is something that all schools must promote and prioritise. Activity from a young age should be encouraged as it benefits a child’s development, enhances the development of motor skills and improves sleep as well as mood.
There aren’t just physical and mental benefits to encouraging girls to take part in school sports, there are important life lessons and valuable skills girls can learn, from the value of teamwork to leadership skills.
Benefits to encouraging more girls to take part in physical activity in schools include:
- Building better friendships.
- Tackling negative body image.
- Improving their sporting skills.
- Reducing obesity rates.
- Developing leadership skills.
- Tackling the gender gap in sports.
How can schools encourage girls to take part in sports?
Different ways schools can encourage girls to take part in sports include:
- Building a positive, ongoing relationship with sport from an early age.
- Talking about and celebrating women in sport in the classroom.
- Encouraging more female role models and mentors in school sports.
- Providing more sporting opportunities designed specifically for girls.
- Promoting physical activity as fun and social.
- Involving parents in supporting active lifestyles.
- Investing in better, inclusive equipment and facilities.
- Considering PE kit design, fit and comfort.
- Prioritising being active and healthy over appearance.
Understanding what motivates girls to take part in sports and enabling teachers to work with girls through issues or struggles, ensures that they can feel empowered in an activity that appeals to them.
Who is Spencer Clarke Group?
Spencer Clarke Group is a specialist education recruitment agency based in the heart of the North West. Operating nationwide, they help schools to find experienced teaching and support staff on a daily, temporary, temp-perm or permanent basis.
After growing exponentially since they launched in 2017, Spencer Clarke Group was named Recruitment Agency of the Year at the 2024 Recruiter Awards.
