How to keep girls playing sport
With expert tips from Eda Erdem and Marta Vieira da Silva.
Want to set girls up for success? Keep them interested in sport!
Girls who stay active aren’t just building fitness – they’re building confidence, resilience, and skills that shape their future. When it is safe, inclusive, and well-organized, sport can help girls develop healthy coping strategies, higher self-esteem, and the courage to take on challenges.
Sport is also linked to better grades, stronger career prospects, and delayed pregnancy. In fact, 80 per cent of female Fortune 500 CEOs played sports growing up, and most say sport helped them succeed.
But despite everything sport has to offer, girls are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys by age 14. Why do girls quit sport? Stereotypes, pressure, body changes, loss of confidence, and lack of support all play a role. But small actions can make all the difference.
To mark an “era-defining” moment in women’s sport – with the Women's Rugby World Cup, World Athletics Championships, ICC’s Women’s Cricket World Cup, and UEFA Women’s Euro stealing the spotlight – we spoke to two sports icons about what keeps girls in the game: Turkish volleyball star Eda Erdem and Brazilian football legend Marta Vieira da Silva, both UN Women Goodwill Ambassadors. Their advice is woven into this article, alongside six evidence-based tips for parents, coaches, and caregivers to motivate girls to keep playing.
“If life is like a match full of challenges, then sports – especially team sports – are like training for it. Yes, you’ll get tired. You’ll feel like quitting. But that fatigue? It builds you. It makes you stronger. We’ve all been there. And continuing is what helped us succeed.”
1. Listen and let her lead
Not every girl dreams of being captain or scoring the winning goal. The key is to give her the freedom to explore different sports and activities until she finds something that truly excites and motivates her.
Whether it’s gymnastics, rugby, fencing, climbing, swimming, cycling, football or dance, there’s no one right way to be active. Some girls will love competition, others will thrive on the joy of creative movement, or the sense of belonging that a team brings. What matters most is that the experience is positive and that she feels ownership of her journey.
Girls who feel they have a choice and power are far more likely to stick with sport in the long term.
Did you know that girls face extra pressures to leave sport?
70% of girls say they don’t feel they belong in sport due to gender stereotypes
Only about 40–57% of girls report positive experiences in sport
63% of girls say they don’t see enough female coaches or role models
In Brazil, women fill just 2.7% of management positions in football clubs – despite a law that says organizations receiving sports lottery money must have 30% women in leadership positions.
2. Focus on encouragement, not perfection
The words we use matter more than we realize. Praise effort, improvement, and joy – not just winning or performance.
Avoid comments about body shape or weight. Instead, celebrate what her body can do: how strong she feels, how much progress she’s made, how determined she is.
Sport should be a safe space where mistakes are part of learning and growth is always celebrated. This type of positive reinforcement helps girls associate sport with confidence and enjoyment, and these feelings will keep her coming back.
3. Talk about the tough stuff
As girls enter adolescence, a range of new pressures start to emerge, such as body-image insecurities, social comparisons, confidence dips, fear of judgment, and the stigma and logistical barriers around periods.
These challenges can easily undermine a girl’s motivation to stay in sport if they are not addressed. That’s why open and honest conversations are so important. Normalize the fact that every athlete, no matter how successful, faces ups and downs. Acknowledge that her body will change and that these changes are natural, healthy, and nothing to be ashamed of.
When girls feel heard, understood, and supported through these challenges, they are much more likely to persevere.
Did you know that periods are a major barrier to participation in sport?
84% of girls in the UK lose interest in sport after starting their period.
58% of girls in India missed sport activities when on their periods.
77% of UK elite athletes say their period affects their performance.
In Bangladesh, female athletes say access to menstrual products and private toilets is key to keeping girls in sport.
Read more: How lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities impacts on women’s participation in netball in Papua New Guinea.
“My poor childhood and Mom definitely were the main reasons that kept me solid regarding what I needed to always overcome in moments of adversities – like a lack of belief and trust from those who intentionally tried to target my motivation and discipline – so that I could continuously pursue my journey and dream.”
4. Make movement a daily part of life
Sport doesn’t only happen on the field or in organized competitions. Movement can be built into everyday life and parents and caregivers play a huge role in modelling this.
Go for family walks or bike rides. Kick a ball around at the park. Dance together in the kitchen. Do some evening yoga to relax before bedtime. Show her that being active is something to enjoy at any age, and that it’s part of a balanced, healthy lifestyle – not just something you do as a child.
5. Watch women’s sports together
Take time to watch women’s sports together, whether it’s the UEFA Women’s European Championship, the Olympics and Paralympics, or local matches. Follow female athletes on social media. Share stories of women who have overcome obstacles and broken barriers in their fields.
Girls need to see women who lead, push limits, and succeed. Role models help girls dream bigger, push through tough moments, and believe that they belong in the world of sport too.
“Being in sports also means breaking gender stereotypes and discovering your full potential. When you don’t give up, you inspire others around you. You’re not alone – there are girls dreaming just like you, walking the same path.” – Eda Erdem.
6. Remind her that sport builds life skills
Girls who stay in sport gain confidence, teamwork, leadership, time management, problem-solving, and resilience. These skills serve them far beyond the court or field.
85 per cent of women who played sport as girls say these skills helped shape their professional success. Among women in leadership roles, that number rises even higher.
Even if a girl never plays professionally, the lessons she learns in sport will stay with her, helping her navigate school, friendships, work, and life with confidence.
Every girl deserves the chance to stay in the game. With support, we can help more girls stay active, stay confident, and unlock their full potential – in sport and far beyond.
Tackling violence against women and girls in sport: A handbook for policy makers and sports practitioners
