Specialist Coaches to Help Women into Sport in Leeds
Specialist sports coaches are being introduced in Leeds and West Yorkshire as part of a new campaign encouraging women and girls across the region to become more active. Following the launch of Sport England’s This Girl Can campaign, West Yorkshire Sport is supporting more than 30 female coaches in developing their skills to deliver female sports sessions in a relaxed and social atmosphere. These sessions are aimed at women wanting to become more active with sessions focusing on fitness and fun, whilst also encouraging women to return to sport who may have taken part in it previously. West Yorkshire Sport, which is supporting the campaign, has also created a dedicated webpage highlighting female-only activities around the county including netball and hockey. Indoor skiing sessions, delivered by female coaches, start in February at Xscape's Snozone in Castleford, and all-female rowing sessions are being offered at Leeds and Bradford Rowing Clubs. Nigel Harrison, chief executive, West Yorkshire Sport, said: “We’re proud to be supporting this unique new campaign and delighted to be playing our part by helping the development of dedicated coaches and introducing the female-only sports sessions. “No matter what your ability, you can simply turn up and play. These sessions are aimed at women wanting to become more active with sessions focusing on fitness and fun whilst also encouraging women who may have taken part in these sports previously, return to sport.” 'This Girl Can' has been developed to tackle head-on the barriers that stop millions of women being more active. It's the first of its kind to feature women of all shapes, sizes and sporting abilities.
It tells the real story of women who exercise and play sport by using images that are the complete opposite of the idealised and stylised images of women we're now used to seeing. "Sweating like a pig, feeling like a fox" and "I kick balls, deal with it" are among the hard hitting lines used in the campaign to prompt a change in attitudes and help boost women’s confidence. 'This Girl Can' is using prime time TV advertising, billboards and cinema and shopping centre screens to put images of real women exercising on the national stage and use social media to start a debate about attitudes to female sport. It comes as research, carried out by Sport England, reveals that by every measure, fewer women than men play sport regularly - two million fewer 14-40 year olds in total. Despite this, 75 per cent say they want to be more active. In some other European countries, this disparity doesn’t exist. Further research into what's stopping women turning their ambitions into reality found that a fear of judgement - on appearance, ability or how they chose to spend time - puts women of all ages off exercising. Jennie Price, chief executive, Sport England, said: “The figures on participation are crystal clear. There is a significant gender gap, with two million more men than women exercising or playing sport regularly. I believe we can tackle this gap, because our research shows that 75 per cent of women would like to do more. “In 'This Girl Can' we want to tell the real story of women who exercise and play sport. They come in all shapes and sizes and all levels of ability. They have a myriad of reasons for doing what they do.
"If you are wondering if you should join them – or carry on – this campaign says it really doesn’t matter if you are a bit rubbish or completely brilliant, the main thing is that you are a woman and you are doing something, and that deserves to be celebrated.” For details on female only activities in West Yorkshire follow @ThisGirlCanWY on Twitter.