Coaching Strategies To Keep Girls In Sport
When I started the Girls Academy, I wanted to truly understand what girls needed in a program designed for them. This question led me down an eye-opening path… one that revealed why so many girls were leaving sports at an alarming rate.
Instead of simply building a program and hoping it worked, I decided to work backwards. If I could uncover the reasons why girls were quitting, I could design a program that addressed those concerns, keeping them engaged, confident, and thriving in sports.
Research shows that girls are more likely to continue playing sports when they feel supported, empowered, and genuinely enjoy the experience. Here are some key strategies to help create a more positive and lasting impact:
1. Prioritize Skill Development and Fun
Too often, girls feel pressured by external expectations: how they look while playing, whether they win, or if they “belong” in sports at all. Instead, the focus should be on developing skills and having fun.
Emphasize competence over appearance or competition. When girls feel capable, they gain confidence.
Celebrate female athletes of all abilities, sizes, and backgrounds. Representation matters—girls shouldn’t feel they have to fit into an unrealistic mold created by society. Athletes like Ilona Maher and Serena Williams are incredible role models who prove that strength, skill, and confidence come in many forms.
Make practices fun. Use engaging drills, gamify activities and provide supportive coaching to foster a lifelong love for the game. Always remember… if it’s not fun, why do it?
2. Build Strong, Supportive Relationships
The connections girls form with their coaches, teammates, and mentors are more influential than we realize. Research shows that positive relationships lead to higher self-esteem, motivation, and long-term participation in sports.
Be a mentor, not just a coach. Take the time to know each athlete beyond their performance. It’s so important to treat them like a person first, athlete second.
Let girls have a voice in their experience. Give structure while also allowing autonomy… let them set goals, offer input, and feel ownership over their development. Girls aren’t used to being valued for what they say as society has historically put more value on appearance. This is why is so important to listen to girls.
3. Empower Girls with Leadership & Problem-Solving Skills
Sports provide an incredible platform for girls to develop leadership and critical thinking skills… skills they’ll carry into school, careers, and life.
Encourage decision-making. Let girls take ownership of their growth by setting personal goals and reflecting on their progress. Instead of simply giving them the answers, encourage curiosity by guiding them to ask deeper questions, explore solutions, and think critically about their development.
Create leadership opportunities. Whether it’s captaining a team, leading warm-ups, or mentoring younger players, giving girls leadership roles boosts confidence and personal growth.
4. Address Psychological & Social Challenges
Many girls leave sports for reasons beyond the game such as social pressures, body image concerns, or fear of failure. Coaches play a critical role in creating an environment where girls feel safe, valued, and supported.
Be mindful of anxiety and self-doubt. Avoid language that adds pressure. Instead, celebrate effort, improvement, and resilience. Dr. Carol Dweck, known for her work on growth mindset, emphasizes that praising effort over results helps athletes develop perseverance, embrace challenges, and see failure as an opportunity to learn rather than a reflection of their abilities.
Foster a culture of inclusion and respect. Encourage a team atmosphere where girls lift each other up rather than compete for validation.
The Bottom Line… Make it a Place Girls Want to Be
As coaches, we can’t forget that the goal of organized sport is fun and lifelong participation. It’s not about us, it’s about them. We need to put the athlete first.
If we want more girls to stay in sports, we need to focus on what truly matters: skill-building, enjoyment, relationships, and empowerment. When we coach girls with the goal of making them love the game, we set them up for a lifetime of confidence, growth, and success… not just in sports, but in life.