Getting more girls and women involved in football starts with the experience you create

Football should feel like a sport that everyone can enjoy, regardless of age, experience or background.

The good news is that more girls and women are getting involved in football than ever before. From grassroots sessions and recreational teams to elite competitions watched by millions, the game continues to grow.

But growth does not happen by accident.

The clubs seeing the greatest success are often the ones creating environments where girls and women feel welcomed, supported and able to enjoy football in a way that works for them.

Whether you're starting a new girls' team, looking to grow participation or strengthen existing pathways, there are plenty of practical steps you can take to make your club more appealing to girls and women.

Why are more opportunities for girls and women still needed?

Women's football has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.

Attendances continue to break records, participation is growing, and the visibility of the women's game has never been higher. Major tournaments have inspired a new generation of players and shown what is possible when girls have access to football from an early age.

Yet many clubs still face challenges when it comes to attracting and retaining female players.

Sometimes it is about practical considerations such as facilities, scheduling or a lack of local opportunities. Sometimes it is simply because girls do not see football as a place where they belong.

That is why grassroots clubs have such an important role to play.

By creating welcoming environments, offering meaningful opportunities and listening to what players want, clubs can help ensure more girls and women feel confident stepping onto the pitch and staying involved long term.

Why creating opportunities matters

Grassroots football can have a hugely positive impact on confidence, wellbeing and community connection.

For many girls and women, football provides:

• A chance to stay active
• New friendships and social connections
• Increased confidence and resilience
• Opportunities to develop skills and leadership
• A sense of belonging within a team environment

For younger players in particular, football can become an important part of their development. It provides opportunities to work with others, overcome challenges, build self-belief and learn valuable life skills both on and off the pitch.

The more opportunities clubs create, the more likely they are to attract and retain players for the long term.

What happens when a girl turns up for the first time?

First impressions often shape whether someone comes back.

Walking into a football club for the first time can feel daunting for anyone. For girls joining a new team, especially if they do not know anyone already involved, that feeling can be even stronger.

Clubs that make a conscious effort to welcome new players often see better retention as a result. Something as simple as introducing players to teammates, explaining how sessions work or checking in after the first few weeks can help people feel more comfortable and connected.

Practical steps might include:

• Introducing new players to teammates straight away
• Assigning a buddy for their first few sessions
• Clearly explaining what to expect
• Creating a welcoming atmosphere from the moment they arrive

The goal is not to create a complicated onboarding process. It is simply to make sure nobody feels like they have to find their own way from day one.

Who do girls and women see when they join your club?

Representation matters.

Seeing women in visible roles around a football club can make a significant difference to how welcoming that environment feels. Whether it is coaches, committee members, referees or volunteers, representation helps reinforce the message that football is a space where girls and women belong.

This is particularly important for younger players. Having female role models within the club can help build confidence, create aspiration and show that there are multiple ways to be involved in football beyond simply playing.

That does not mean every girls' team needs a female coach. But clubs that actively encourage women into coaching, volunteering and leadership roles often create stronger pathways and a greater sense of belonging across their community.

What does your club look like from the outside?

The way your club presents itself sends a powerful message.

If your website, social media channels and promotional materials only feature boys' teams, it can unintentionally suggest that girls are an afterthought.

Take time to review:

• The images you use
• The stories you share
• The language in your communications
• The visibility of girls' and women's football across your channels

A club that visibly celebrates female participation is far more likely to attract new players.

One club leading by example is Lewes FC. Lewes became the first professional or semi-professional football club in the world to provide equal budgets, facilities and resources for both their men's and women's teams.

Their approach has helped challenge perceptions around women's football and demonstrated what genuine commitment to equality can look like in practice.

While not every grassroots club can replicate that model exactly, the principle remains relevant: when girls and women feel valued, participation grows.

Does your club feel welcoming from day one?

Facilities and environment play a bigger role than many clubs realise.

Feeling comfortable, safe and included can have a huge impact on whether someone decides to stay involved. While facilities alone will not determine participation, they do contribute to the overall experience.

Simple things can help girls and women feel more comfortable and included:

• Dedicated changing facilities
• Clear codes of conduct
• Positive sideline behaviour
• Inclusive club policies
• Well-maintained facilities

Creating a welcoming environment benefits everyone involved in the club, not just female players. It helps build a culture that people want to be part of.

Where do future players first discover your club?

Many future players discover football long before they join a team.

Schools, community groups and local organisations can all play an important role in introducing girls to the sport.

Building relationships with local schools can help create valuable pathways into your club.

Ideas include:

• Taster sessions
• School partnerships
• Holiday camps
• After-school clubs
• Community football events

The earlier girls are introduced to football, the more likely they are to continue participating as they grow older.

The FA's ambition to increase access to football for girls in schools has helped create greater visibility for the game. Grassroots clubs have an important role to play in building on that momentum and creating clear pathways into local football.

Are you creating the football experience they actually want?

Not every player is looking for the same experience.

Some enjoy competitive league football and structured training. Others may be looking for a more social, flexible or recreational environment that fits around other commitments.

The most successful clubs avoid making assumptions and instead create opportunities that reflect the needs of their community.

That might include:

• Recreational and competitive pathways
• Girls-only sessions
• Flexible participation options
• Social football opportunities
• Different age-group programmes

The key is providing choice.

When clubs offer a range of ways to get involved, more girls and women can find an environment that feels right for them and are more likely to stay involved long term.

Listening is important too. Regular conversations with players and families can help clubs understand what people value most and where improvements could be made.

The coach sets the tone

Coaches play a huge role in shaping a player's experience.

A positive coaching environment can help players build confidence, enjoy the game and feel motivated to keep developing. The opposite can also be true.

The most successful coaches often focus on:

• Encouragement
• Development
• Inclusion
• Effort and progress
• Enjoyment

That does not mean removing challenge or competition. It means creating an environment where players feel supported as they learn and improve.

When players enjoy the environment, they are far more likely to stay involved long term.

Does your offer reflect real life?

Girls and women often balance football alongside education, work, family commitments and other activities.

Flexibility can make participation much easier.

Consider offering:

• Different session times
• Recreational football options
• Short-format programmes
• Flexible entry points
• Opportunities to return after time away

The easier it is to fit football into everyday life, the more accessible it becomes.

Clubs that recognise changing lifestyles and adapt accordingly are often better positioned to retain players over time.

What makes players keep coming back?

Attracting players is important.

Keeping them involved is where lasting growth happens.

Players are more likely to stay when they:

• Feel welcomed
• Enjoy their sessions
• See opportunities to progress
• Build friendships
• Feel valued by the club

Retention is often the result of hundreds of small positive experiences over time.

It is the teammate who makes someone feel included. The coach who remembers their name. The volunteer who takes time to answer questions. The environment that makes people look forward to coming back each week.

Those moments matter more than clubs sometimes realise.

How do you know it's working?

Progress is not only measured by league tables or participation numbers.

Other signs of success include:

• More girls returning season after season
• Increased volunteer involvement
• Stronger attendance rates
• Positive feedback from families
• Greater visibility of girls' football within the club

These indicators often show that you're creating an environment people genuinely want to be part of.

Growth tends to follow when people enjoy their experience and feel connected to the club.

Creating more opportunities for girls and women in football

Attracting more girls and women to football is not about one campaign, one programme or one recruitment drive.

It comes from creating an environment where people feel welcomed, supported and valued from the moment they arrive.

The clubs making the biggest difference are often not the ones with the largest budgets or the biggest facilities. They are the ones that listen to their community, create opportunities that reflect people's needs and continue looking for ways to make football accessible to more people.

When that happens, participation grows naturally.

More importantly, more girls and women get the opportunity to experience everything grassroots football has to offer: confidence, friendships, community and a lifelong connection to the game.