‘The key is positive role models’ to ease female teenage drop-out rate from sport

There’s been progress in arresting the female teenage drop-out rate from sport, but there’s a road to travel yet. Jacqui Corcoran got the views of some of those close to the conundrum

Christmas morning, 2003. Seven-year-old Valerie O’Brien wakes with the excitement particular to children of that vintage. As herself and her brother open their presents, they see her brother has a new Waterford jersey, a book and a new hurley. Santa has brought Valerie a lovely Barbie makeup set. In another parcel there it is though — a new jersey and hurley, just like her brother’s.

“From day one that was the approach at ours,” says Valerie. “I got the girly presents alright, but I also got sportsgear and the likes. It was about being open about all options. I think one of the reasons girls drop sports in their teens is that they think they have to choose between sport and glamour. Why not both?”