Women in Sport
Women in Sport
sport can bring people together and make a real difference, one person at a time. “
2025 is a big year for women’s sport…
Jenny
We’ve got the Women's Euros and the Women’s Rugby World Cup coming up. And the spotlight has been well and truly switched on. For those of us who are not directly involved, it feels very much like a golden time for women in sport. It feels like it is finally starting to get the recognition, support (and budgets!) it deserves and needs. But is that really the case? What is it actually like for women in sport today and what difference is it making to people?
We’ve interviewed three women who have all made waves in the industry. We speak to Sky Sports F1 pit reporter, Natalie Pinkham, who, now in her 15th F1 season has seen a lot of change in her time and is unfailingly optimistic about the rise of women on the F1 circuit. Ex-pro footballers, commentators and founders of The Powerhouse Project, Rosie and Mollie Kmita talk candidly about their experiences of ‘the beautiful game’, what men’s football could learn from women’s and the undeniable challenges that women still face here, despite the encouraging changes we have seen.
But sport is never just about the professionals. Most people don’t make it to these higher echelons. That’s why we also hear from those on the ground for whom being involved in sport has been life changing.
We have a very special article written for us by a young woman who has found sport a vital grounding part of her life as she navigates her way through. Despite the challenges she has faced, it is an inspiring story that demonstrates how sport can bring people together and make a real difference, one person at a time.
We also take a closer look at the positive impact grassroots sports have, not just on bringing more women into sport but also on educating men about both the challenges and the huge positives here. We speak to two male coaches working in South Lincolnshire – James Swift who trained the local girls' football team and Jeremy Ford who coaches women’s rugby. Both men were keen sports fans before they got into coaching, but really only the men’s games. The insight and perspective they have gained as a result of working with women on the sports field has had a transformative effect on them both.
And finally, as many of you will know, Kunle is also a huge sports fan and has been involved in the Surrey Cricket Club for many years now. At the end of last year however, he took on two new sports roles, both of which focus on women. We find out why he chose to go down this road.
We hope that by taking a look at women’s sport from all kinds of different angles, you will find something that sparks an idea, challenges a preconceived idea or even inspires you to get involved in some way. As always, let us know what you think.
The unifying power of sport
As many of you know, I love watching sport. I also have the privilege of working in sport. I joined the General Committee of Surrey County Cricket Club in 2017. But before this role, I didn’t know that much about women’s sport. With this role, I really began to listen and learn about women’s cricket from professionals that played the game.
By Kunle Olafare, Chief Executive, SK Financial
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I believe that sport helps to forge friendships, to encourage physical and mental fitness, and to also have fun. Sports clubs can be hubs. As humans, we are social beings. Unity is key.
Chatting with former English cricketer, Ebony Rainford–Brent, interviewing players such as Danielle Gregory and Bryony Smith (SKQ 10) and spending time with Charlotte Samuelson and Laura Cordingley (interviewed in SKQ 13) has been very beneficial to my learning.
I then remember meeting two ladies for the first time – on Zoom – on 22nd April 2021. They are now friends and clients of mine – Mollie and Rosie Kmita. And I am now happily involved in their latest endeavour – The Powerhouse Project (flip a few pages to read their interview and find out more about this incredible company).
Spending time with them, being in rooms with them, negotiating deals with them (and for them!) has deepened my understanding of both the challenges and opportunities that they face every day as women working in the world of sport.
To paraphrase Atticus Finch, you never really understand a person until you consider things from their point of view; until you climb into their skin and walk around in it. That is for me the true meaning of the word empathy.
I can only ever empathise with what it is really like to be any one of the women I have just mentioned here. But I am keen to dive deeper into the world of women’s sport; to learn and gain a greater understanding and make a positive impact.
That’s why I have also recently secured a role as a board adviser to the Rugby Women’s World Cup Board. When doing my research for the role, it dawned on me that 80% of the positions were to be available for women, so my chances of success were already reduced. The team interviewing me were also all female. It was an insight into how many women feel when trying to break into traditionally male dominated industries. It was a humbling experience.
But I got the job. One of my main objectives with this position is to help make this tournament successful by including people that may not have ever been to watch a rugby match. The fact that women’s sport is that much more accessible than men’s is a huge draw. Ticket prices are far more affordable and the atmosphere tends to be much less intimidating than men’s. It is a real opportunity to bring people together in a very special way and I have already had the pleasure of seeing this in action.
One day a friend contacted me. Asser Malik and his wife Malala Yousafzai wanted to attend a women's rugby match at the Stoop to watch Harlequins Women play Bristol Bears Women. This was to be their first women’s rugby match. On Valentine’s Day. They also wanted to meet their favourite player, Ilona Mahler. My first thought was ‘Ahhhh!’. But we made it happen. And boy was it worth it.
It was a such an incredible moment; a true demonstration of the unifying power of sport as two icons meet for the first time. A huge thank you to Harlequins for their assistance and my thanks to World Rugby for their support.
In addition to this, I want the chance to help make an impact on someone’s life from a societal viewpoint. I believe that sport helps to forge friendships, to encourage physical and mental fitness, and to also have fun. Sports clubs can be hubs. As humans, we are social beings. Unity is key.
So those are the underlying reasons for my involvement in women’s sport. I love what is happening and I am thankful to those of you that continue to educate me.
Here’s to the Lionesses and the Red Roses doing the double in the Euros and the World Cup this Summer.
Rosie & Q & A
Named as one of Forbes 30 under 30 in European Sport, Mollie and Rosie Kmita are themselves ex-professional footballers. Today, they are broadcasters, presenters and hosts as well as the founders and owners of The Powerhouse Project. As their website says, they ‘started The Powerhouse Project to inspire and empower women and girls to get involved in sport. [They] want to show the next generation that anything is possible’.
Mollie Kmita
By Jenny Ellery
It was a truly miserable February day. You know the ones where the sky is an endless grey and it was just starting to rain. Again. Sitting in the office, I had arranged to meet Rosie and Mollie Kmita on Zoom to catch up with them about their business, The Powerhouse Project and get their take on women in football and sport in general.
As soon as they started chatting their passion, their enthusiasm and their commitment to change the world of sport for women was like a ray of light. Their words were filled with genuine warmth, the kind you just don’t get to experience very often. All this, and I was only on Zoom. They are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. They are extremely driven, but eternally down to earth with it. They clearly have the tenacity and personality to make a real difference for women in the industry.
SKQ: What has got you really excited about women’s sport recently?
Mollie (MK): From our point of view, the momentum in women’s sport has probably picked up externally more than ever. But I think for us, we’re experiencing it in a different way. Ultimately, we were there before the hype. Playing through the transition that we’ve seen in women’s football has meant we have experienced both the “wow this is what it feels like when no one cares” moments, to now living through a time where everyone cares and we have that surge in interest.
What that has meant for us is that we’re a part of a movement. When you’re a part of a movement it opens your eyes to the opportunity that you have to make change. We haven’t come into women’s sport or are excited about women’s sport because of the momentum. Women’s sport has always been our lives. And now, we’re experiencing what it’s like to have other people take an interest. It gives us purpose.
SKQ: What do you think was the turning point?
Rosie (RK): I wouldn’t say that there has been one moment. I think in general, the fact that we now have huge brands come
in and want to work in the game, work with everyone involved in the game – players, presenters etc - is amazing. This was always supposed to happen and this should have happened 10, 15 years ago. We are now not having to outreach or fight as much as we used to, to get eyes on the game. Big brands are coming into the game and wanting to be involved for the right reasons. I think that is the big shift that we have seen so far. Which has been brilliant.
We have spent so many years in this game, doing shows where we knew only 10 people or something were going to be watching. We’ve now seen it grow to the point where there are hosts and presenters coming in from other fields and other industries wanting to get involved, I think that is massive for the game. It is brilliant to be in the game and have football in a place where there are all eyes on us now. That’s great to be a part of. As players and for us being in front of the camera.
SKQ: What are your biggest frustrations?
MK: It is so interesting because ultimately the Powerhouse Project exists because there are still so many barriers in women’s sport. For us the biggest pain point is always going to be misogyny. There is always going to be a lack of education, which there is across the board in women’s sport. It still infuriates some men that women can speak about a sport. That is pathetic first of all, but it also gives us a lot of work to do. Misogyny and how it feels to be judged and criticised for doing your job is so frustrating. We have been there so many times where we are just talking about a game that has changed our lives, that we have played from the age of five and yet in some spaces we’re almost not allowed to have an opinion on it. So for us, it is about levelling the playing field. It’s about making sure women are prepared for these environments that they are about to step into. From an outsider's view looking in, it looks great – women’s sport is on the rise, everyone cares. But actually, the reality is that we are still ruffling a lot of feathers with this movement so we need to make sure that the industry and the world around it is prepared for the change that’s happening.
“ When you’re a part of a movement it opens your eyes to the opportunity that you have to make change. “
The Powerhouse Project needs to create an infrastructure that prepares women going into the industry and create a positive support network, a community for them. We want them to be ready for the backlash; that they have the confidence to overcome the criticism they WILL get.
As a woman, you have got to be the best. We found it too. You have to gain respect before anyone will listen to you. That is very hard to do, if you are maybe not the most confident woman in the room. As a coach, you’re obviously judged on your knowledge, what you know, what you can deliver, but when you step in as a woman, people are always more sceptical. It’s the truth.
RK: I also feel that we were very fortunate to have each other for our own journeys. That has been our own little support network. Hand on heart, if I didn’t have Mollie in those moments, I would have stopped presenting a long time ago. I probably would have stopped playing a long time before I ended up retiring. So we knew the power of having that support network for each other so we really just wanted to create that for loads of other women. We were really lucky in that space, but what if you are a single person going into that situation – you need that community, you need that support. That’s why we set up The Powerhouse Project.
SKQ: With The Powerhouse Project, what do you feel most proud of?
MK: The big successes come from when our coaches or women in media get opportunities that without The Powerhouse Project, they wouldn’t have been able to take up. It’s really hard to nail down one but a really good examples is a coach who was coaching at a grassroots level. She came onto The Powerhouse Project UEFA B Prep Programme and we secured her an internship at Chelsea Football club. Fast forward a couple of years and she is now full time U16 coach at Chelsea. To have watched that journey over a period of three years is incredible. And that journey is what we’re replicating over and over again. We’re saying you’re really good, you’ve got a lot of potential but you don’t believe it. We need to give you a programme that educates you and develops you to a point where if you do step into those rooms, you are able to thrive. To see this young coach now with a full time job at a Premier League club is absolutely amazing.
I have to make it clear though that we are not doing this alone. We work in collaboration with Nike. They allow us to fully fund each of our coaches’ badges – payment was of course a big barrier. If someone has all the potential in the world, but maybe not the finances, Nike allow us to unlock that budget so we can fully fund those qualifications so that women can go and work in an elite environment.
RK: Away from the external, clear successes that we see at our programmes, I always feel like it has been a huge success when I see shy, young women turn into confident women off the back of being around our community of women who support them. We see women came to the programme who don’t know how to get the most out of themselves socially yet, are quite unsure where to put themselves. But then we create a support network and they start to fly and go onto do amazing things at clubs up and down the country. Little moments like that really stand out for me. And we see that every single time we run the programme.
SKQ: What do you think men’s football could learn from women’s?
RK: I think that the one thing that stands out for me when it comes to the women’s game is that family feel. You go to a game and you feel you could take young kids all the way through to your grandparents. Everyone sits together. It’s got that real lovely
environment. In men’s football, you walk in and it feels toxic. It’s not a nice environment. You wouldn’t want young kids sitting in that crowd. You just don’t know what is going to come out of the person’s mouth sitting next to you. So I just think for me, if the men’s game could create a more family feel and take a few notes from the women’s game from that aspect, I think that would be brilliant. We’re not against men’s football. We bloody love men’s football. We’ve grown up watching it but also how amazing would it be to be able to take young kids to a men’s game and not worry. I think that would be huge for the men’s game and something they could really learn.
MK: I think in women’s sport we’re very good at collaborating. We’re very good at bringing in people from different areas of expertise. It feels like that there is a lot of ego in men’s sport. It’s very territorial. This is my club, this is how we run things, I don’t need to hear from you. I think that mindset in sport but also in business, is a problem. In women’s sport, I think we are better at opening the doors and accepting people in. People like us – when women’s sport started gaining traction, we could have just shut the door and said hang on, where have you been? You care now because there has been some success, but where have you been? With men’s football, it feels like there is a lack of welcoming. For me, I would love men’s football and at times men’s sport, to take into account how you can grow when you let more people in.
SKQ: What would you like to say to your younger self?
RK: If I could speak to my younger self sitting here today, I really wished we stopped worrying so much. Me and Moll, we’d always wanted to do well for ourselves, for our families, for everyone around us which is great but we put a lot of pressure on ourselves over the years. At times, that pressure took the fun away from it. Looking back, when playing, we’d put pressure on ourselves to play at 100% every single week and then we went into presenting and it was about being the best you can be in front of the camera every single time. And then you’d focus on that 10% that didn’t go well that day. Or the one thing that you said wrong that day rather than focusing on the fact that we were even there in the first place. If I could speak to my younger self, it would be take the pressure off, things are going to play out and you’re going to be really proud of yourself when you’re sitting here at 30. I am really proud of us, we probably don’t reflect enough on that.
MK: Enjoy it! I think that comes from getting older anyway. But when you grow up playing women’s football – a sport that no one cared about – you almost live in constant fear that this isn’t going to last. You’re living in an industry that doesn’t actually exist. So with The Powerhouse Project, it is a way to actually create longevity and legacy in something that has served us. To work in your purpose is a blessing, to get to do that together is an even bigger blessing. I live in a bit of fear that I don’t want to lose this but I also need to remember that it is not going anywhere. That’s a big learning for me. I wish, when we were younger, that we could see where we ended up and definitely be like, yeah, it all works out in the end.
RK: As women, I just don’t think we naturally back ourselves enough which is such a shame because when you don’t back yourself so many emotions come up and you live in a state of fear. It’s not great. We have felt that so many times in our life and I just don’t want other women and girls to feel like that. Why do we do that to ourselves? I wish there were more women who could walk into a room and think, yeah, I’m going to own this and I am going to be better than the man next to me and I deserve to be here. I just don’t think we have those conversations with ourselves as women.
SKQ: What should parents and grandparents do to support girls going into sport?
MK: We never saw ourselves as girls playing football, as girls playing sport. We were just encouraged to go and do it. And that’s the best thing any family can do for their girls wanting to go into sport. Growing up in a family where you didn’t see yourself as a girl playing sport was really important. It meant we could always dream big and we did.
We never saw those barriers and when you don’t see those barriers you don’t have the imposter syndrome. That only started happening as we got older. When we were younger, it wasn’t a thing.
Also, show no fear as parents and grandparents. When we were coming through it was like, why would you want to go into that? What will you gain from that? Now, there are real career opportunities and prospects both on and off the pitch.
RK: As young girls, we know when we have not had a good game. Internally, we already know. So parents, grandparents, please don’t reinforce that message. If they have gone out and had a shocker, please believe they will know. Please don’t make their mistakes the first thing you say when they get in the car. Allow them to get in the car and pinpoint three good things that they did around the mistake. I think naturally, as a young girl, as a young woman, as soon as you have made that mistake, you will dwell on it for the rest of the game. Please don’t reinforce that after the game, it will dent her so much. There are so many times where that has happened, whether that be when I have come off camera or come off the pitch where that message has been reinforced. It has really taken its toll on me. So as parents, guardians, as supporters of that young person, please positively reinforce because we cannot play a part in knocking a young girl’s confidence.
Also, we often see parents living out their dreams through their children. We ran a grassroots football club back in the day and you would see that a lot. But what it is that taking out of the child? The pressure you are putting on that young girl, she’s not going to want to get back out on the pitch.
SKQ: So, what’s next?
RK: One of our newest projects that launched in March – we really just want as many people as possible to tune into The
Powerhouse Project podcast. It highlights incredible women across sport, across the business – basically any woman that has smashed it in their field, we want to hear from them. That’s our way of getting the messaging around powerhouse out there. We really just wanted to do a podcast to get more eyes and ears on the conversations we’re having in our programme because they’re really really important for women to hear. This is going to be a real passion project for us going forward. So we want people to tune into the podcast and if they have any recommendations of women we should be talking to that would be great!
At the moment, most sports podcasts tend to be male heavy or they have female guests on and they’re just not asking the right questions. Oh gosh, ask her more on her period, I need to know more about her periods because I am going through the same thing. It’s important to state that it is not a stats and facts podcast, it’s a journey, story-telling podcast. It’s all about you’re amazing, but how have you got there, how have you believed in yourself so much to unlock your full potential? How can others go on to do that?
Ultimately, we’re going to make a big impact over the next 10, 15, 20 years – we hope – and we’d love SK Financial clients to be a part of that journey.
Rosie and Mollie are also actively looking for partners and sponsors. If you’re interested in being part of the Powerhouse Project, they are open to picking up discussions with the right partners. Any organisations that are looking to make an impact in women’s and girls’ sports, should get in touch. www.thepowerhouseproject.co.uk
We will see a female F1 champion in my lifetime.
I’m adamant.
Sky Sports F1 pit lane reporter, Natalie Pinkham
Formula 1 pit lane reporter and British TV presenter, Natalie Pinkham is chatting to me from her London home. She has both her kids at home with her, off sick with flu. She’s just retaking her daughter’s temperature as we get started. It doesn’t matter who you are, juggling family life and work is par for the course.
“I
used to cut my hair short and compete as a boy when I was in the relay team at school. There were three boys and me. We were the four quickest in our year, so we were chosen to represent the school, then the county and then we got through to the nationals. But the organisers found out I was a girl and they disqualified us. That’s just wild!”
It’s safe to say that the world has changed a lot since her school relay experience some 30 years ago. But even in her time working in Formula 1 – she is now on her 15th season – she recognises just how much things have improved for women in the sport.
When Natalie first started in F1, she remembers that you could count on one hand how many women were working in the sport. “I thought that was very strange. There were just so many men in the jobs. It was very white and very male. I often wondered where the women were. It wasn’t like the guys working in the sport were ex-drivers, so they were no more qualified than anyone else to be in that role.”
But now she believes it is better than it has ever been for women. One of the crucial developments she attributes this to is the rise of female influencers. If women are fans of F1, they can now create their own content, include the relevant hashtags and share it on socials. These women have become very skilled at building their own following and encouraging a shared passion for F1. They have created their own movement and now make up a vital, growing proportion of the F1 community.
Within the industry, Natalie credits the improvements for women, in no small part to British racing driver, Lewis Hamilton. “Lewis has been so great for the sport. He is prepared to be disruptive, showing the world that F1 can be accepting and accessible. He is telling people they are all welcome. Even though Lewis is still the only black driver ever, to the shame of our sport, he is championing F1 as a place that is open to all, irrespective of ethnicity, sexual orientation or gender. He recognises the need to represent all viewers. They are not just white men.”
“And Lewis never takes his foot off the gas – pardon the pun. When he is behind the wheel he knows what he is representing. And for me that is the difference between a great sportsman and true icons – it’s what they do with their platform that sets them apart. His legacy will last for generations to come.”
The women’s F1 Academy is also playing a pivotal role here. Set up and managed by Scottish driver, Susie Wolfe, the academy is an all-female series.
“The academy runs through the year on F1 weekends so that the spotlight is there. If a woman has talent, she can get seen. There are teams like Mercedes who already have women drivers in the wings, but this gives others a platform to get noticed by the teams with all the money.
“There is no reason why a woman cannot compete and excel in F1. Helmet on and visor down, you’d have no idea if the driver was male or female. But we will definitely see a female champion in my lifetime. For me it is not if, it is when. I’m adamant. It’s a cool and an attainable goal.”
Natalie has always been into sport. Her brother was a big F1 fan and she grew up in Northamptonshire, near Silverstone. They would often head down to the track and watch the British races. She remembers being blown away by the sport. “There are just so many elements; so many layers. You learn one thing and then realise that there is still so much more.”
After graduating from Nottingham University, Natalie became a runner for the BBC and Sky Sports. She always knew she wanted to go into television, and wanted to go into sport but was unsure whether to be in front of or behind the camera.
It turned out that poker ended up being her first reporting gig. “Poker was a great way for me to cut my teeth. It is pretty forgiving. It’s late at night, so you can make all your mistakes without too many people catching it!”
Then when BBC 5Live said they had an opportunity for a pit lane reporter, she thought it sounded like a great job, even though it was radio. That was back in 2011. She was their pit lane reporter for a year working with commentator, David Croft, pit lane reporter, Ted Kravitz and legendary pundit, Martin Brundle as well as former driver, Anthony Davidson.
Then in 2012 Sky got the F1 programming rights and they all moved over. “We’d been working together at the BBC so it made sense to just move us across. That’s when I switched to being back in front of the camera which is what I really wanted.”
During those early years, BBC sports broadcaster, Elly Oldroyd, was her mentor. She gave just the right amount of support and guidance on what directions to take. Having had that, Natalie is now very keen to do the same for other women – anyone really –wanting to get into the sports industry.
“I get asked by lots of women about how to get into F1. I made a promise when I was just starting out that if anyone asked for support getting into F1, I would give it. I had that when I was starting out so I have made that commitment and want to do it.”
She now also includes her children, she has both a son and a daughter, in what she does. They come to races with her and while they are now at school and timetabling this around school holidays isn’t easy, they are set to be at a couple of races again this season. For her it is important to show them a good work ethic but to also see what she does as a woman in sport.
“I look at my children and I want my daughter to have the same opportunities that my son has. I took them to the 2022 woman’s Euros because they love watching quality sport. They certainly got it there and it didn’t even register with them that it was the women’s game. It’s a generational thing. There’s a real shift happening. I feel so privileged, and honoured to see such a change during my time in the industry.”
Just a few years ago, it was nigh on impossible to find a girls’ football team for your daughter to join. It was even harder to find a women’s rugby team to train with, if you fancied giving it a go – especially outside metropolitan areas. But up and down the country, girls’ and women’s grassroots sport is taking off. And about time too. Not only is the female population now finally able to reap the rewards of playing on a local team, it’s also encouraging more men to see and respect the myriad of skills women demonstrate both on and off the pitch.
SKQ chats to two male coaches, working in South Lincolnshire. For a number of years James Swift trained a girls’ under-13 football team and Jeremy Ford coaches a women’s rugby team. Yes, both of them have daughters, but they also both have sons and still chose the female teams. That in itself says a lot...Let’s find out more about their experiences.
Girls’ Football: James Swift
Why did you decide to coach girls?
It’s just…….better. It’s less toxic and more inclusive. In my experience, girls’ football is just the perfect way to fill your Saturday mornings. The passion and desire is still there, but the pressure does not seem to be as extreme as the male equivalent. The environment off the pitch is also a better place to be with less pressure from parents and coaches.
What do you enjoy about coaching girls and how does it differ from the boys’ game?
My daughters have played in both girls and mixed teams over the years and there are huge differences. I think one of the biggest ones is that boys instantly look at the opposition as ‘the enemy’, where as the girls will be hungry to win, but will also be considerate if the opposition are injured or upset.
It is also very rare for a young female footballer to get involved in what has been termed as ‘shithousery’ (like trying to get a free kick when it isn’t really a foul), which is a real plague in boys’ football. I find the historic term of ‘crying like a girl’ funny when comparing boys’ and girls’ football as it's always the boys who roll around in floods of tears – the girls either seem to crack on or just come off.
As a man coaching girls, has it opened your eyes to some of the challenges women face in sport?
My journey coaching girls has generally been a really straightforward one. We have been blessed with good facilities, engaged parents and financial support – however this is not that common. I feel like we have also ridden a bit of wave from the successful Lionesses over the last 10 years. I feel for girls who are now young adults who didn’t have the options current school girls have.
Any great moments that really stand out?
First, was when one of the girls scored an absolute ‘top binner’ which was celebrated by both teams
because of the quality….not sure this would ever happen in boys’ football. The other is more of a parental proud moment. The opposition coach was being consistently vocal about everything going on in the game (which was a real distraction for all). After a break in play, my daughter turned to him and shouted, “can you just shut up…we are all trying to play football!”. There’s something quite inspiring about a 13 year old girl shutting up an angry middle aged man.
Why do you think grassroots sport is so important?
For me, grassroots sports is just a win on so many levels. It can be the starting point to progress in the sport, as it has been for my daughters who now both play for Leicester. For others, it can just purely be a social thing where you get to hang with your mates a couple of times a week. Throw in the benefits of fitness, social skills, and a bit of structure to the week and it just seems a no brainer….as long as they are engaged with it. Generally, the cost of grassroots football spread over a season also works really well. You can do it for about £5 per week…..we were also very lucky with local sponsorship, so the girls were always ‘dripping’ in new kit!
“In my experience, girls’ football is just the perfect way to fill your Saturday mornings. “
Women’s Rugby: Jeremy Ford
Why did you decide to coach women?
I was at a coaching workshop one evening and I knew the club had just started women’s rugby. I saw seven women training with a coach and just had a moment; I had to be there. Before then women’s rugby had never entered my mind - it was a game for the boys. How wrong I was. I was astounded at my first session to see the women’s curiosity and willingness to learn and have been hooked ever since.
What do you enjoy about coaching women and how does it differ from the men’s game?
Coaching a women’s rugby team as a man has challenged me every time. It has challenged my perceptions and encouraged different ways of thinking. The biggest difference for me is selling the why. Coaching men, I could ask them to hit a tackle pad and they would just do it, no questions asked. With the women, I won’t get the same buy in unless I have explained the why. Their curiosity is so much more attuned and I generally can’t get the best outcome for them if they haven’t accepted the why. Another challenge is that most of them haven’t been playing rugby since the age of six or seven, or perhaps they had up until the age where they had to engage in contact with the boys. They therefore don’t have the building blocks of run, catch, pass so that foundation has to be built. They also don’t have bad habits, which is a good thing! What I really like is that there is also huge self-reflection in the group, more so than in the men’s game. If someone has got something wrong, then generally they will address it and apologise.
Rugby is famous for the camaraderie. However, in the women’s game this extends to helping teammates move house, flowers
or chocolates for injured players, picking others up for training, congratulations for achievements at work, solace during relationship breakdown, celebrations for babies being born, dog-sitting, babysitting, you name it. That on its own is so uplifting to see.
Pre-match build-up is also different. I would often worry that the tone wasn’t right; but soon realised that this was a male perspective thing. My experience of the changing room was, some were hyper focussed, others were squeezing each other and bouncing off the walls. The women will be simply laughing and joking, taking pictures on their phones, plaiting their hair. That is so far away from what I personally perceived match preparation to be but I have to accept that it is totally different.
As a man coaching women, has it opened your eyes to some of the challenges women face in sport?
Certainly. The basics just aren’t in place because it has always been a man’s game - separate changing rooms; baby changing facilities; tampon bins; hair dryers. It’s changing but these are the things that leap out. The other challenge is childcare. Some of our ladies have to wrap up their children and bring them to training which isn’t ideal. Women also mainly play their matches on Sundays because the men play on Saturdays, which can stymy celebrations!
Kit is also a problem. Again, it is changing but historically rugby boots were made for men. Anatomically, women have narrower heels, higher arches, and different foot shapes to men and their weight distribution is also different so the studs need to be in different places. Studies suggest that women are more prone to ACL injuries than men – ill-fitting boots don’t help this. I’m always trying to encourage them to get boots manufactured for women.
And of course women’s menstrual cycle. This can impact performance and it’s important that players and coaches are aware of this. It’s not always easy as a man coaching women as some won’t want to discuss this with me. But it can reduce endurance, recovery, speed, or strength. It was refreshing to see the Welsh rugby team use red shorts due to period anxiety for some of the players.
Any great moments that really stand out?
For me, I have been privileged to see what a team sport teaches the individual about life. Some of our girls have really found their tribe and support network. We had a young lady join us and she had been bounced around the care system with little to no stability. During her first session she was quiet and shell shocked. She stuck at it, and her confidence and voice grew. The ladies organised a surprise 18th birthday party for her. She said it was the best party she’s ever had. Seeing the joy rugby brings, whether on the pitch, training, the bus ride home, ladies being told by supporters that they are proud of them genuinely brings a tear to my eye. They don’t know it but they are role models for young girls to let them know – I can do that.
Why do you think grassroots sport is so important?
Grassroots rugby is particularly important in this day and age where it can be a struggle to tear children - and adults - away from digital distractions. It teaches participants resilience, understanding, teamwork, patience and understanding, the lesson that sometimes life isn’t fair or that you generally get out what you put in. It rewards endeavour and kindness and is a fantastic outlet for those perhaps frustrated by day to day life. The role modelling and life lessons are just so important. Similarly, finishing a game, win or lose, you shake hands with your opponent, thank the referee and what happened on the pitch stays on the pitch.
“ What I really like is that there is also huge self-reflection in the group, more so than in the men’s game. If someone has got something wrong, then generally they will address it and apologise.
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I feel appreciated as I am part of a team
By Shravani Philpot
Shravani Philpot is 23 years old and has recently been selected as a Youth Ambassador for the Lord’s Taverners, the UK's leading youth cricket and disability sport charity. Back in 2022, she was awarded an ‘Inspire Award’ by the charity in recognition of her inspirational attitude and work in the world of cricket.
Shravani is autistic and having been a resident with the Novalis Trust, which runs schools for children and young people with complex learning needs, she is now studying Sports Studies at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College in Bristol.
In her own words, she tells us more about how cricket has played such a crucial, positive role in her life. Shravani currently lives in Stroud, Gloucestershire, with her parents and her cat, Phizzie.
Love for cricket
I started playing cricket at the age of eight or nine years old. I was introduced to it by a family friend and primary school games master. I then went on to captain my secondary school team and the girls’ team at my local club in South Hampstead, London.
In Stroud, I started to play cricket for a team lead by the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, which aims to improve people’s lives through the power of cricket. I trialled for the county’s disability team and was accepted onto the team at the end of 2020.
I now play for the S9s performance team. We play with a softer ball, called an ‘incrediball’ and I train every other week for the team.
I love playing cricket because it’s an amazing game and I understand the rules! I enjoy playing as it gives me a feeling of wellbeing and I feel appreciated as I am part of a team.
Giving back to the disability team
As well as playing, I am a volunteer coach for the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation’s disability team and help assist the main coach for a group called the Super 1s. This is a group for young people to join who have no experience of playing cricket. I will sometimes do the starter activity or just be there as a helping hand.
I wanted to help give cricketing opportunities to others in the way I was helped. I was given the opportunity to play cricket despite my autism and they did this without discriminating or judging me.
As part of my role here, my coach will also sometimes ask me to help at events, such as cricket days for disadvantaged children. The most recent event I helped at and umpired for was the table cricket competition played by schools for children with special needs and disabilities.
Working with refugees
This Winter, I trained with Afghan refugees in Gloucester. My coach thought I might enjoy this and potentially meet new friends. I felt very included in the group and all the men and boys on the team were very welcoming all the way through. They give me advice and said complimentary things about how I play cricket.
I enjoy all kinds of cricket. I am really looking forward to a full fixture of games in the Summer playing in the S9 league for the Gloucestershire County Disability cricket team!
I was given the opportunity to play cricket despite my Autism and they did this without discriminating or judging me.
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We
SIMONE BILES “
We can push ourselves further.
always have more to give.
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