It's More Than Boots for these Bajan girls

WSC: What is the status of female soccer within the communities you work in?

ST-H: In Barbados, female soccer is still developing. We have about seven women’s clubs but, at the youth level, girls still have to play on predominantly boys’ teams.

For some girls and parents, the lack of girls-only teams can be a barrier to entering the game.

WSC: Why is it so important for these communities to have opportunities for female players? 

ST-H: It is important because it creates an environment where the players feel like they belong. Additionally, it creates visibility for those not involved, as yet, to see what is possible and that they, too, can get involved.

WSC: What are the current numbers of female players and coaches in Barbados and how does this compare to male players and coaches? 

ST-H: The number of female players at youth level is extremely low, especially compared to the boys where there are hundreds of players.

Opportunities for female players and coaches within Barbados are extremely limited. 

We have a women’s league where older players can play and there is the occasional secondary school tournament for girls.

The number of female coaches is growing but many of them aren’t coaching on a regular basis.

Within the More Than Boots program, we have four female coaches and our motto is: "See it, be it!".

All of our female coaches are Concacaf-licensed coaches. They also currently play for the Barbados women’s national team.

Additionally, two of our coaches are engineers and highlight through their careers that they can achieve anything they set their minds on.

We provide role models for the girls, who can see what is possible not only as soccer players but off the field as well.

WSC: What other initiatives has More than Boots run? 

ST-H: One of the important parts of the program is that we expose the girls to activities outside of football sessions that help them to develop into confident, empowered young women. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic, we shifted the program online and spoke to the girls about career options and highlighted elite female Barbadian athletes, providing the girls with an opportunity to speak to a national female track and field athlete and a national female boxer.

The girls also participate in field and beach clean-ups, camping and tree planting and we work to educate them on caring for their environment.

WSC: What impact has the program had on other societal factors in the community, such as views of females in sport?

ST-H: The greatest impact the program has had is that it has created the belief within the participants that they can pursue their dreams and not be pigeon-holed because of their gender.

Additionally, it has highlighted that the low participation of females in football is not because of interest but due to ease of access to a safe, inviting and inclusive environment for girls and women.

WSC: What are the future plans for the program?

ST-H: Our immediate plans are to increase our participation numbers by returning to schools and other community programs. Additionally, we are looking to develop our programs to offer girls-only tournaments. 

Eventually, we will open the program to boys, as we have started to get interest from parents of boys. We believe that the program also has the potential to benefit young boys.