Women and girls
Understanding female participation in sport and physical activity
For many clubs, engaging more women and girls in squash is a major priority. We've collated some research and insight into women and girls participation in sport and physical activity which can be used to develop an understanding into the barriers and motivations amongst them. The Squash Girls Can campaign is built on the findings from some of the research below, and clubs can implement Squash Girls Can activities to engage more women and girls.
Find out how your club can get involved in Squash Girls Can.
Women In Sport research
Women in Sport is a national organisation that exists so that every woman and girl in the UK can experience the transformational lifelong rewards of sport. The organisation undertakes research into women and girls relationship with sport and physical activity. We've highlighted a number of relevant research documents below:
Understanding women's lives found that women hold six core values:
- Looking good
- Feeling good
- Achieving goals
- Developing skills
- Nurturing friends and family
- Having fun
Squash clubs and venues should ensure their activities appeal to these values in order to attracted more females.
The ideal sports club for women research found that women who are not currently sports club members perceived sports clubs to be elitist, exclusive, for the skilled and not for 'people like them'. Only a minority of women are motivated by coaching and competition. One of the strongest motivations for joining a club is the opportunity to meet and socialise with like-minded women.
Women in Sport have recently published their 2020-2022 impact report, outlining how they have championed change in sport through campaigns, collaborating with others and changing the system. Read the full report here.
Rally Together
Rally Together is England Squash's campaign to encourage clubs, coaches, and the squash community to rally together and take action to create an inclusive environment where females can thrive.
Why Rallying Together is important
To break the bias, we need to address our thoughts and behaviours around women and girls in squash. Here's why you should take action:
- While sexist jokes might seem like a bit of harmless banter, sexism and misogyny underpins violence against women.
- If they can see it, they can be it. Sharing the successes of women and girls will give them more inspirations they can relate to.
- Female coaches have higher competency standards but face lower rewards compared to male coaches.
- If you don't follow or engage with women in sport, how can you begin to understand the barriers they face?
Rally Together Pledge
We've asked club, coaches and the squash community to Call Out Sexism including 'harmless banter' in ALL environments where I coach or play, to share the success stories of women and girls far and wide, educate themselves on the issues women and girls face and learn that different groups have different needs, invite females to coach alongside me and put them forward for opportunities and address who they're following and engaging with on social media so that I hear more female voices to help create a better environment for women and girls.
Learn more about the Rally Together movement and pledge here.
To help clubs understand their current position and to provide areas where they can look to better themselves we have created a short audit clubs can complete. Complete the audit and look at where your club can make changes.
Squash Girls Can
Squash Girls Can is a ready-made informal sports programme that can be delivered at your club or venue, and is designed to overcome the barriers women face and meet their needs. Use the Squash Girls Can toolkit to see how these sessions should be promoted and delivered.
Case studies
Investing in your female membership
Biddenden Squash Club in Kent have invested into their female membership over the last 10 years which has led to them having their highest number of female members.
Hear from head coach Tom Swain on how they turned their club around from potentially having to close and built a club culture that is supportive and welcoming.
Squash goals at Winchester squash club
Ruth Coolings, squash coach at Winchester Racquets and Fitness, guest blogs for England Squash about the success of their Girls Squash Squad and how having a male ally has been key in making strides.
Read the full case study here.