New Women and Girls Pledge
New framework to support clubs working to level the playing field and create opportunities to increase female participation
It’s well known that football has the power to change lives for the better. Not only does it make a significant contribution to improving physical and mental health, it can also unite communities, build aspiration, reduce inequalities and bring joy to those involved.
So why do half the population still face considerable barriers to participation that deny them access to the game and prevent them from enjoying these benefits?
While we have seen incredible growth in female football recent years, it’s clear that we still have some way to go if we are to ensure everybody has an equal chance to be part of the game. For example, in Hertfordshire football we currently have over 40,000 registered male players compared to just 5,000 registered female players.
We believe that every woman and girl who wants to play, coach, spectate, officiate, manage or administer in Hertfordshire football should have the opportunity to do so. It’s time to make our game stronger by ensuring everyone has the chance to be part of it.
Introducing our Women and Girls Pledge
On behalf of the Hertfordshire FA Women and Girls Committee, it is incredibly exciting to be launching our new Women and Girls Pledge. With this pledge we are asking clubs to commit to creating equality in their leadership, champion diversity across their activities and work to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls.
The pledge includes a range of ways clubs can work to level the playing field and create opportunities to increase female participation. Each club can pledge to commit to supporting equality and prioritise the actions most suitable for them to achieve this aim. It is their pledge, steered by them, to suit their club’s composition and direction.
This provides a real chance to drive positive change in a way that is achievable and sustainable. To further help support and reinforce this change, clubs who sign up to the pledge and achieve their goals in the pledge will be celebrated and rewarded by Hertfordshire FA Women and Girls Committee.
On behalf of the Committee and the women and girls of Hertfordshire we ask as many of you as possible to please pledge to take steps to make this change.
Mary Pacitti, Chair of the Hertfordshire FA Women and Girls Committee said:
“Fifty years after the ban on women’s football was lifted it’s clear there is still a huge shortage of opportunities for women and girls to get involved in the game. Whilst progress is being made, we still need a concerted effort to deliver meaningful change.
That is why we are asking clubs to sign this pledge and commit to delivering equal opportunities. Not only will this help to right a historic wrong, it strengthens clubs and helps them to become even more valuable assets to their communities.”
About the Women and Girls Committee
The new Women and Girls Committee was created in November 2021 and is made up of a diverse range of individuals who can all bring a valuable perspective on the female game. Our goal is to ensure many more girls and women to get the chance to fall in love with football and benefit from the friendship, fitness and joy that it brings.
For more information or support with the pledge and how you could implement it at your club, please contact Gemma Smith by email or on 01462 650211.
