The Barriers: Female Participation in Sport
Photo: KidSport London
Written by Don Pollock, KidSport London
Kidsport London is a registered charity that provides grants to pay registration fees so children from financially disadvantaged families can participate in sports. Cost keeps one in three Canadian kids out of organized sports, especially kids from marginalized or remote communities.
Based on grants issued in 2024, we offer the following observations:
We issued 741 grants to London athletes for a total of $158,368.00
However, only 218 were issued to female athletes. This represents $48,293 or 29.4%.
If the grants are analyzed by the age of the participant, we notice a significant drop-off of females after age 11. Girls aged 11 and under received 71% of the grants while 29% was for ages 12 to 18
Although female participation trailed boys in most sports, girls had higher or equal participation rates in the following sports:
Cheerleading
Gymnastics
Martial Arts
Volleyball
Ringette
Although there is a view that 2024 was the year of the female athlete due to the successful start of a professional women’s hockey league, numerous Olympic medals, and the popularity of professional women’s soccer, it is unclear if these accomplishments will have an aspirational impact on young female athletes.
Increasing female participation in sports is important to Kidsport. The Calgary Chapter of Kidsport studied female participation in sports and made the following observations.
Changing Priorities: Girls’ hobbies and priorities may change as they get older, causing them to place more emphasis on other pursuits. Canadian Women and Sport states that “around puberty, girls’ sport participation often decreases as they navigate changing priorities, such as academics, social relationships, and extracurricular commitments.”
Lack of Sports Awareness: Girls’ lack of sports awareness may be attributed to limited exposure to various sports in schools or communities.
Lack of Perceived Ability: Girls may believe they are unable to participate in sports, especially those that have historically been dominated by men. It’s critical to challenge this belief and motivate girls to realize their potential.
Low Confidence: Girls’ lesser self-confidence can prevent them from participating in sports because of societal expectations and stereotypes
Negative Body Image: Social pressure and media representations of unrealistic body ideals can cause body dissatisfaction in women, which might affect their motivation to participate in sports.
Feeling Unwelcome: In sporting situations, gender bias and discrimination can make females feel excluded.
Lack of Financial Resources: For girls, a lack of resources can be a major deterrent to participating in athletics. For people with limited financial resources, the expense of equipment, club dues, transportation, and specialized training may limit their options. KidSport works to remove this barrier by providing financial aid to eligible young athletes.
Personal Safety Issues: Girls’ participation in several sports may be discouraged by real or perceived personal safety issues. Taking care of these issues and putting safety measures in place will help alleviate anxiety and motivate girls to participate in physical activity. It’s critical to establish a setting where girls feel encouraged and comfortable.
Female Invisibility and Underrepresentation: The idea that sports are largely for boys can be influenced by the absence of female coaches and mentors as well as the restricted visibility of successful female athletes.
Lack of Clothing and Equipment: Girls’ participation in sports may be hampered by a lack of adequate clothing and equipment. Access to a variety of sporting goods, including options that are culturally considerate or meet specific needs, is crucial.
Removing the obstacles that prevent females from participating in sports calls for a multifaceted strategy. In addition to providing financial assistance, we can encourage girls to participate in sports by expanding female representation in coaching, increasing access to clothing and equipment, cultivating self-confidence and self-acceptance, encouraging good body image, establishing inclusive environments, guaranteeing personal safety, and raising awareness. Smaller communities outside of London face the additional problem of an insufficient number of athletes to have separate leagues for boys and girls.
Canadian Women & Sport undertook a survey in 2024 and reported the following:
Role Models: Half of the girls surveyed feel inspired by coaches and role models who represent their diverse backgrounds.
Family Support: Nearly 7 in 10 girls report that family members play a positive role in their sport experience.
Body Confidence: 1 in 2 girls said participating in sport positively influences their body image, though 1 in 3 report that comments about their bodies undermine their confidence.
Mental Health: 7 in 10 girls feel that sport and physical activity positively impact their mental health.
Menstrual Cycle: Nearly 1 in 2 girls aged 13 to 18 feel that their menstrual cycle impacts their participation in sport.
Kidsport London believes we provide an important service in eliminating financial barriers for girls to participate in sports. However, to increase female participation rates, we need additional investments in girl-centered coaching practices and the creation of safe, supportive environments where all girls feel welcome.