Sport England is investing £2 million of National Lottery funding into grassroots girls’ football as part of a new programme set to be launched by The Football Association later this summer. The Squad Girls’ Football programme will be aimed at getting more 12-14-year-olds into the game and links into Sport England’s work to tackle inequalities around gender activity habits.
Their latest Active Lives Children and Young People report shows that girls are less likely than boys to complete the suggested 60 minutes of physical activity a day outlined by the Chief Medical Officer. The research shows that barriers to participation include 51% of girls saying they’re shy or self-conscious, while 46% lack confidence in their own ability.
This new programme aims to combat this by training coaches to ensure every girl has a voice and choice during the session, to guarantee their preferences and needs are catered for.