Girls and young women, especially those aged 12 and up, face limited opportunities to participate in community sports. In the Netherlands, 35% of girls rarely or never engage in sports, and this figure is even higher among teens from urban areas or minority backgrounds. Globally, 50% of girls participate less in sports due to traditional stereotypes, a lack of female coaches, and limited inclusive facilities.
While there is a strong desire for inclusivity and female participation in sport, many youth organisations face barriers to put this into practice. She Got Game was developed to overcome these barriers by creating safe, inclusive and empowering spaces where girls can lead, learn, and grow. With She Got Game ISA aims to empower girls through sports and boost female leadership and community engagement of women.
In collaboration with Jointly Women and local municipalities, the first She Got Game programme in the Netherlands trained 8 coaches, who reached 315 teen girls through weekly sports sessions. The programme expanded from its initial target of four communities to seven, including cities like Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Nijmegen, and Tilburg.
Now, as we are in the final stages of She Got Game 2.0 in the Netherlands, the programme continues to make significant strides in the Netherlands, supported by IT4Kids. ISA has trained 3 coaches in Amsterdam and 4 Coaches in Nijmegen, all working to create inclusive sports environments for girls. Our local partner, Jointly Women, led by Ihsane Laabi, has been instrumental in this success. Ihsane, a role model for young girls, advocates for their participation in sports and helps bridge communities. Even after the official project ended, the Girl Coaches continued to inspire by leading football sessions with Jointly Women.
The She Got Game 2.0 coaches received three full days of training and ongoing mentorship from ISA trainers. They then put their training into practice by organising 25 sports activities and two girls-only events in Nijmegen and Amsterdam. These events featured sports like kickboxing, hockey, basketball, and plenty of soccer, offering a fun and empowering environment for young girls to explore their leadership potential.
To complete the project, we are excited to announce the creation of the She Got GameBook, developed with support from IT4Kids. This practical guide will equip coacheswith the strategies and examples to create safe, inclusive and fun sports environments for girls. The GameBook will ensure the lessons from She Got Game continue to evolve and inspire future generations.
Looking ahead, ISA is committed to expanding safe spaces for girls, empowering more coaches, and ensuring that girls’ voices are heard and valued in sports and community activities. Our mission to transform how European communities engage young women through sports continues to drive us, and the impact stories of strong female leaders motivate us. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive future.