The manual We Ball Too is a practical guide for sports federations, clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and schools who want to create safe and equal spaces for girls and women in sport. It is based on international research and recommendations and inspired by good practice from Slovakia and abroad.
Why it matters
Girls are less physically active than boys in all age groups. In Slovakia, only 17% of 15-year-old girls meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity, and many leave sport during puberty. Sport supports physical and mental health, builds confidence, creates friendships and helps prevent social exclusion – so keeping girls in sport is worth the effort.
Main barriers
- Social and cultural: gender stereotypes, fear of ridicule and a lack of female role models.
- Psychological and physiological: low self-confidence, puberty, menstrual cycle and coaches’ limited knowledge of female physiology.
- Organisational: no girls’ teams, unsuitable facilities, few women coaches and leaders, unequal budgets.
- Communication: recruitment and visuals aimed only at boys.
- Financial and logistical: costs, travel and demanding family schedules.
The 5P model of inclusion
The manual offers a simple compass for an inclusive sports culture: Place (a safe space), People (support from coaches, teammates and parents), Possibility (equal access to opportunities and equipment), Protection (safeguards against ridicule and harm) and Participation (girls’ voice in decisions and leadership).
Further chapters cover equal opportunity in practice, safe and supportive environments, training and game models for female athletes, school sport and PE, recruitment and communication, and good-practice case studies.
All project publications: Publications
The publication was prepared within the Erasmus+ Sport project We Ball Too (101184656) by Istropolis Invincibles, Příbram Bobcats and Slovak Sport Organisation. Funded by the European Union.
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