Why women’s sport is leading the way

Over the past week, we have seen the England Lionesses start their Euros 2025 journey. Watching the games has got me thinking again about how positive and enriching women’s sport is. It also highlighted some areas where men’s sport could learn a thing or two.

As you know, our most recent issue of SKQ magazine focused on women in sport and it is clear that I am not the only one who feels this way.

Everyone’s welcome

Let’s start with how much more accessible women’s sport is. Ticket prices for women’s events tend to be considerably more affordable than those for men’s sports – this is especially true of football. While they are still not cheap and will not be financially viable for everyone, there will be a lot more people able to afford these tickets versus one for a men’s game. As such, a lot more people can get involved and be a part of something special, can experience the thrill of watching sport and get inspired to take up a new skill. This is so very important.

Women’s sport is also a lot more accessible in terms of the game experience There is no denying that watching a live men’s game can at times be a little intimidating. This just isn’t the case with women’s matches, something that ex-footballer, commentator and co-founder of the Powerhouse Project (PHP), Rosie Kmita mentioned in her interview with SKQ:

“You go to a game and you feel you could take young kids all the way through to your grandparents. Everyone sits together. It’s got that really lovely environment. In men’s football, you walk in and it feels toxic. It is not a nice environment. You wouldn’t want young kids sitting in that crowd. So I think for me, if the men’s game could create a more family feel and take a few notes from the women’s game from that respect, I think that would be brilliant.”

Mollie, Rosie’s sister (who is also an ex-footballer and pundit and is the other founder of PHP) agreed but also highlighted how much more collaborative and open women’s sport is. It is not just about how people experience the game, it’s behind the scenes too, at the business end of things.  

As she says, “I think in women’s sport, we’re very good at collaborating. We’re very good at bringing in people from different areas of expertise. It feels like there is a lot of ego in the men’s sport. It’s very territorial – ‘this is my club, this is how we run things, I don’t need to hear from you’. For me, I would love men’s football and at times men’s sport, to take into account how you can grow when you let more people in.” I couldn’t agree more.

Youngsters need positive male role models

This disparity is true even when youngsters are involved – again it’s the girls getting it right. James Swift used to coach a girls’ grassroots football team in South Lincolnshire. When asked why he chose a girls’  team over a boys’, his answer was simple. ‘It’s just….better. It’s less toxic and more inclusive. In my experience, girls’ football is just the perfect way to fill your Saturday mornings. The passion and desire is still there, but the pressure does not seem to be as extreme as the male equivalent. The environment off the pitch is also a better place to be.”

I have to say that I am definitely more aware of the many positive aspects of women’s sport – not least because of my roles with PHP and the Women’s Rugby World Cup board. And it is not simply about pitting men against women in a negative way. Quite the opposite. It is about take the best of what women’s sport has to offer and making changes to improve how we all experience men’s sports.

It is also clear that we owe it to the young boys out there to model a more positive approach in sport. If there’s one thing we all know our society needs right now, it’s positive male role models.