Engaging parents when moving to a boys' league

When I first started coaching my U7s girls’ team, I wanted them to be competitive, strong and technically proficient, but also challenging the stereotypical attitudes that are associated with girls playing soccer.

The team began in an all-girls’ league in 2017 but, after a year, we struggled to find a girls’ team that was competitive enough for us to play against.

I moved the team up an age group and found the same problem, so we made the decision to move them into a boys’ league.

Most parents were supportive, but there were concerns about whether the girls could cope with the physicality and speed of the game. Collectively, though, we wanted to try it.

We knew it was going to be a process, so we started off by playing boys a year younger and built up from there.

I reassured the girls - and still do - that they are strong, powerful and can do anything they put their minds to. I told them they were changing attitudes and inspiring future generations of young female players.

The football and the progression of the girls spoke for itself from the off. But with the boys’ fixtures on a Saturday, we were able to give the option for players to also play in the girls’ Sunday league like before. 

Some parents took the option to just stick to the girls’ league at first, but eventually their daughters joined in with boys’ matches further down the line, when they saw the progression of the team and, ultimately, how much the girls enjoyed playing the boys.

We also played friendlies over summer and started playing down an age group, before building up to our own age group. We then started against the lowest ability boys and worked our way up from there.

Five years on, the team has become stronger, faster and braver on the pitch. They have adapted to playing a quicker style of play, learning to move the ball around quickly but also moving into space to receive it back.

The standards we set ourselves on a Saturday against boys reflect on a Sunday against girls, when we look unstoppable. We retain possession, transition from attack to defence and vice-versa very quickly and work harder than any other team we have come across.

The parents love watching their girls playing in the boys’ league. It’s clear to see the pride they have when they see their resilient, strong, talented daughters dominating a group of boys on the pitch.

Watching the psychological and social development of my girls is where I have found my joy and pride as a coach.

"Parents have pride when they see their resilient, strong, talented daughters..."

The girls, unfortunately, haven’t always been accepted by the boys and have come across problems. They get fouled twice as hard, sniggered at and whispered about.

But, slowly, they are changing the attitudes of the boys in our local area and have become well known for their soccer ability, not their gender. They are becoming trailblazers and, ultimately, will change the stereotypes for future generations. 

The girls have developed skills that will help them on and off the pitch for years to come - determination, integrity, bravery, team building and pride in their gender.

We have been recognised for our achievements in the boys’ league and were even featured on BBC TV’s weekday evening magazine programme, ’The One Show’.

If you are thinking of moving your girls to a boys’ league, my advice would be start them early so they don’t know any different. 

Stick it out, even when it gets hard, and play a year younger if you need to until the girls adapt. Work on shielding and protecting the ball in training.

Ultimately, reassure the girls that they are just as strong, quick, talented and fantastic as the boys and have every right to be there playing alongside them.