Celebrating Success: Final Report of the Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway 2024

The Girls Positive and Safe Coaching Pathway has reached a major milestone with the publication of its Final Report for the 2024 cycle. This groundbreaking initiative, designed to foster safer, inclusive, and empowering environments for girls in sports, has exceeded expectations and paved the way for impactful change.

Key Achievements at a Glance:

• Global Reach: The Pathway reached over 19,000 individuals across 60 countries, with 13,571 girls and women positively impacted.
• Training Excellence: A total of 1,040 participants, including coaches, team managers, and practitioners, were trained by 33 certified trainers.
• Workshops Worldwide: Delivered in 18 countries, with online and in-person sessions tailored to diverse cultural and regional needs.

In its first cycle, the Pathway reached over 19,000 individuals in 60 countries, demonstrating its universal relevance and potential to transform the lives of girls and women in sports. The program’s framework, designed to address the unique barriers faced by girls in sports, has been delivered through a combination of in-person workshops and online sessions. Workshops were hosted in 18 countries, ranging from India to Botswana, Fiji to Germany, and beyond. This hybrid approach ensured accessibility for participants in remote and underserved regions, while also leveraging technology to connect a global network of coaches, trainers, and sports leaders. 

The success of the Pathway lies in its ability to adapt to diverse cultural and regional contexts. Implementing partners have tailored the modules to meet local needs, empowering coaches to address challenges specific to their communities. For instance, rural coaches in Fiji and Kenya brought the training to isolated areas, creating safe spaces where none existed before. This global collaboration is driven by a shared commitment to gender equity and inclusivity. By equipping coaches with the skills and confidence to foster safe and positive environments, the Pathway has become a catalyst for a worldwide movement—a movement where girls and women feel empowered to participate, thrive, and lead in sports.

Access the Full Report Here

Transforming Coaching Practices

The program has not only equipped coaches with the skills and knowledge to create safe spaces but also inspired them to challenge stereotypes and foster positive environments for girls. An overwhelming 85% increase in confidence was reported by participants in addressing gender-specific challenges, and over 90% of coaches shared they gained actionable strategies to promote inclusivity and well-being among their athletes.

Coaches have begun implementing these changes within their communities, and the results are already evident:

"The workshop was incredibly insightful. It gave me the tools to create safe spaces and build confidence among young girls,
even addressing previously overlooked issues like body shaming."

"I’ve learned how to effectively communicate with my athletes, ensuring their well-being and
fostering a supportive environment."

"This training opened my eyes to how gender stereotypes affect girls in sports
and gave me strategies to combat them."

These reflections highlight the profound shift in attitudes and practices among coaches, emphasizing the Pathway’s success in addressing real challenges faced by girls in sports.

A Celebration of Success and the Pathway Forward

The Final Report reflects the incredible progress made through the Pathway, highlighting key achievements, lessons learned, and inspiring stories from the ground. As we celebrate these accomplishments, we are already preparing for an exciting 2025 cycle, where the Pathway will continue to evolve and expand its reach. 

This next phase will focus on amplifying the program’s safety, positivity, and empowerment principles, ensuring that even more coaches and young women and girls benefit from this transformative initiative. More emphasis will be placed on integrating inclusive coaching strategies to make sports environments accessible and welcoming for all. By expanding the program’s scope and fostering networks of advocates, trainers, and alumni, we aim to create a sustainable ecosystem that champions gender equality and the empowerment of girls through Sport for All.

We would like to thank our partners for their unwavering support in making this progress possible. Our deepest gratitude goes to Nike, whose commitment to fostering gender equality in sports has been instrumental to the Pathway’s success. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our implementing partners and trainers worldwide, who delivered workshops, adapted the program to local contexts, and empowered coaches to drive meaningful change in their communities.