Colman Noctor: Supporting girls to stay engaged in sport

The biggest barrier that prevents inactive girls from taking part in sports and physical activity is not feeling good enough

Most girls associate “sportiness” with a team and contact sports

Ongoing research shows that sports provide multiple physical and mental health benefits. However, women and girls have long been underrepresented in sporting activities. According to a 2021 Sport Ireland report far fewer teenage girls participate in sports in Ireland than the national average in other countries.

I can see this dynamic emerge in my family as my daughter, who is almost 11, requires considerably more cajoling to attend her weekly sports activities than she did in previous years. By contrast, her older brother can’t get enough time on the pitch.