Encouraging Girls in Sport Unlocks Their Future Potential
Leading SA girls’ college Principal suggests strengthening girl’s participation in sport starts with single-sex PE classes.
With the Commonwealth Games kicking off in Birmingham on the 28th of July, Dr Nicole Archard, Principal of Loreto College Marryatville, suggests the key to strengthening girls’ participation in sport and meeting their dreams of future professional sporting success, lies with single-sex sports environments.
The value of physical activity extends far beyond the schoolyard, with research conducted by EY’s Women Athletes Business Network finding a connection between female sports participation and higher professional outcomes.
In speaking to these findings, Dr Archard said:
“Observed in the professional sporting context, this research highlights the social and emotional competencies, communication skills, resilience and sense of teamwork built through sport, and the important impact it has at every stage of a women’s life.
Sporting participation not only helps girls to be healthy and more confident, but these universal attributes can propel them into successful careers where they continue to challenge gender stereotypes and demand gender equality.”
Recent findings from a Flinders University study suggested girls were dropping out of sport faster than their male classmates. Highlighting the importance of this issue for many educators in bolstering girls' sports participation in the school environment.
“We know girls prefer and are more active in all-female physical education classes. The single-sex environment allows girls to feel more confident and show fewer inhibitions, which in turn builds confidence, and positive self-esteem, and grants the opportunity to break through gender stereotypes,” said Dr Archard.
Dr Archard’s view is backed by research recognising that girls in co-educational schools have lower self-esteem and feel more pressure to be thin than girls in single-sex schools. They are more likely to fast, diet, and go to other extremes often associated with eating disorders. Competitive mixed-gender activities with taller and physically stronger boys are seen to reinforce existing gender stereotypes, undermine girls’ confidence, and reduce their enjoyment of PE and sport overall.
Loreto College Marryatville puts research around sporting participation and higher professional outcomes in practice through their all-girls sporting programs and integrated senior sporting curriculum. Recognising the profound impact sport has developmentally, the Loreto College Junior Sports Program provides opportunities in a broad range of sporting experiences that are developmentally appropriate, and challenge individuals according to their level of skill development.
At the secondary level, maximum sporting participation is encouraged with girls able to choose to enter a specialist Netball or AFLW Program as part of the curriculum, developing expertise in their chosen sport as well as an understanding of biomechanics, nutrition, coaching, and umpiring. Senior students have a greater choice and flexibility in the design of their studies, which not only include Netball and AFLW, but also Specialist Physical Education.
“As a school, we integrate a wide variety of sporting activities and opportunities for our girls because we know the positive impact it provides from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood,” said Dr Archard.
About Dr Nicole Archard, Loreto College Marryatville Principal
Dr Nicole Archard is a highly qualified, passionate advocate for girls’ education. With a Doctor in Philosophy in Gender, Girls’ Education, Women and Leadership, in addition to three Masters’ degrees, she is well qualified to champion that view.
Dr Archard believes that a girls' school environment is the best place for girls to be educated and that it equips them to challenge gender stereotypes, develop a confident and articulate voice, develop leadership capacity in all forums, and be comfortable within themselves.
A published author and accomplished public speaker, Dr Archard advocates nationally and internationally on the topics of gender, women and leadership, girls and STEM, and girls’ education.
About Loreto College Marryatville
Loreto College Marryatville is South Australia’s leading all-girls day and boarding schools, catering for students from Early Learning to Year 12.
Established in 1905, a Loreto education is built on a 400-year-old tradition first inspired by the founder of Loreto schools worldwide, Mary Ward, and encapsulates her beliefs in delivering an education which inspires strong, passionate, and confident girls and young women.
In delivering this view, Loreto College Marryatville provides girls with a well-rounded education where students are presented with a broad range of opportunities and given the support and encouragement to become confident and engaged learners with the knowledge and skills to make a difference to their world.
Shannon Muscolino