I am delighted to be working with SSE in raising awareness of and increasing the opportunity for girls to get involved in football from a young age and am over the moon to be able to share with you this amazing video about football (soccer to my American readers) helping overcome life’s greatest challenges as part of SSE’s Dads and Daughters programme.
As a mum to two boys one of whom has been in a football team since being 5 years old, I know all about the benefits of team sports for children and I am delighted as a woman to see football becoming much more open to girls especially at the grassroots stage. The football club that Maxi is part of has a fantastic number of girls only teams and also a Female Football Factory, which is great at getting more local girls playing football.
But football is much more than just an exercise activity, football can be life changing and I do not say that lightly. if you do not believe me then please just watch this video. It will take you less than 4 minutes and I guarantee you it will leave you with a huge smile on your face and help you understand just transformational it can be.
It is also great to see the bond that Daisy has with her Dad Kenny and the positive effect that girls only football can have on girls in the UK. I love that girls have some amazing role models in the Lionesses and that my boys to look up to these amazing football players. SSE took Eni Aluko along to meet Daisy and her team at Yaxley FC.
As part of their Dads and Daughters programme SSE are trying to encourage more girls to take up the sport, as well as encouraging those that have already done so. I think it goes without saying that girls should have the same opportunities in football as boys do.
You can read more about Daisy’s Story here.
I would love to know your thoughts on getting girls to play football. Do you have any experience of the barriers of entry to women’s football? Does your daughter play for a team? Would she like to, but there isn’t one locally?
I do think it’s great that it is so much easier these days. I first played at university and I really enjoyed it, but it wasn’t encouraged when I was young.
My daughter’s school still only lets the girls play football once at week at lunchtime. It drives me mad.
Love this. I have a good friend who almost played for the Canadian Olympic team a few years ago. She’s a teacher at the school my children go to. In the summer they have a staff v children football match. My son and his friends were quite disparaging about the women in the team, that’s before they saw my friend play, then they were amazed!! 😀
Amazing article.Love playing football with my daughter.
I loved football when I was at school
Yay what a great campaign! We have mixed teams at our school and lots of girls play.
My friends girls play football and love it. Eliza wants to start but the training session clashes with Rainbows sadly
My lot all play football most nights at the beach these days x x
Neither of my girls have ever tried football but I suspect they would enjoy it if they did. I thin once they go to secondary school there is a girls and boys team there. Mich x
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