Behind a young athlete’s training schedule, competition travel, and educational commitments, there is often a family helping make it all possible. From arranging transport to offering encouragement after a difficult performance, parents and guardians can play an important role in a young woman’s sporting journey.
Through its focus on dual careers and gender equality, GENDERWISE highlights the importance of supporting young female athletes as they develop in sport, continue their education, and explore future opportunities. Families are part of that wider support network.
Understanding the Athlete’s Own Ambitions
Supporting a young athlete begins with understanding what she wants from sport. Some young women hope to compete at the highest level. Others value participation, friendships, or the opportunity to develop their abilities alongside different interests.
These priorities may change over time. Regular conversations give athletes space to explain their goals and discuss what they enjoy or find challenging.
Parents and guardians can help by listening before offering advice. Questions such as “What would you like to achieve this season?” or “What kind of support would be useful?” allow the young athlete to take an active role in shaping her own journey.
Encouragement Beyond Results
Competitions naturally draw attention to scores, rankings, and outcomes. Family support can also recognise preparation, commitment, cooperation, and personal progress.
After a competition, giving an athlete time to reflect can be more helpful than immediately analysing her performance. She may want to discuss what happened, celebrate an achievement, or simply move on with the rest of her day.
Recognising effort and learning gives families more ways to encourage development. It also creates room for conversations about experiences that a result alone cannot explain.
Supporting Education Alongside Sport
School deadlines, training sessions, and competition travel can overlap. Families often help coordinate these commitments, particularly for younger athletes.
Planning together can make busy periods easier to manage. Reviewing upcoming exams and sporting events, discussing travel arrangements, and identifying potential scheduling difficulties can help everyone understand what lies ahead.
Where appropriate, parents and guardians can support communication with schools and clubs. The athlete should remain involved in these discussions so that arrangements reflect her needs and help her gradually develop independence.
Education deserves a place in this planning. Supporting a dual career means helping a young woman pursue sporting goals while keeping future study and employment opportunities open.
Challenging Gender Stereotypes at Home
The messages young women hear at home can influence which opportunities they feel encouraged to explore. Assumptions about suitable sports, leadership abilities, or future professions can narrow those possibilities.
Families can support equal opportunities by taking girls’ sporting ambitions seriously and encouraging them to explore coaching, management, and decision-making roles. Interest in a particular pathway should be considered on its merits, with attention to the skills and learning it requires.
Sharing examples of women working across different areas of sport can also help start conversations about possible futures. The purpose is to open choices and allow young athletes to discover what interests them.
Helping Without Taking Over
As athletes grow, they need opportunities to practise making decisions, communicating with coaches, and managing responsibilities. Family support can adapt alongside that development.
A parent might initially help organise a weekly schedule, then gradually encourage the athlete to take greater responsibility for planning. Preparing for a conversation together can be useful while allowing the young woman to express her own views.
This balance will depend on age, circumstances, and individual needs. The aim is to provide dependable support while creating space for initiative and learning.
Recognising Practical Barriers
Families have different resources and responsibilities. Transport, equipment costs, competition travel, and time away from work can make participation difficult.
Clubs should communicate clearly about costs, schedules, and available assistance. Early notice and transparent information can help families plan and raise concerns before difficulties become harder to resolve.
Supporting young female athletes is therefore a shared responsibility. Cooperation between families, schools, and sports organisations can help identify practical arrangements that make participation more accessible.
How GENDERWISE Contributes
GENDERWISE supports young female athletes aged 14 to 26 through educational resources, digital learning opportunities, and mentoring. Its focus on transferable skills helps participants prepare for future opportunities in coaching, management, and leadership.
Families can encourage this development by showing interest in what young athletes are learning, making room for their educational goals, and supporting their exploration of different career pathways.
For BRAVO, recognising the role of families is part of understanding the everyday circumstances of young women in sport. Listening, practical cooperation, and respect for each athlete’s ambitions can help create the conditions in which she has room to develop.
MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT
GENDERWISE is a 30-month initiative funded under the Erasmus+ Sport programme, bringing together seven partners from six European countries. The project promotes gender equality in sport and supports dual careers for young female athletes through educational resources, online learning, and mentoring.
Stay tuned as BRAVO continues sharing GENDERWISE activities and perspectives on creating more inclusive opportunities for young women in sport.
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