LAST year was the Year of Young People but, as is often the case with things of this nature, we tend to feel the impact for some considerable time after a campaign ends.
A few weeks ago I was contacted by a two girls, both aged 12, asking if I could help. Rebecca and Kayla are both
keen basketball players and full of determination to raise the profile of the sport for girls in Scotland.
Their team has grown with the addition of Laura, Macy and Mia and together they have created a video, which you can see on their social media channels.
When they took their idea to Basketball Scotland and also to their school principal, they were listened to and advice and support was readily given. They are now working with their principal and active schools coordinator to organise visits to other schools, where they will talk to pupils about basketball and women in sport.
Meanwhile, on Rock Sport Radio’s
Let’s hear It For The Girls, Jo Ferry and I interviewed Asta Thompson, a 13-year-old footballer from Canada. Asta and her father told us about her ambition to be a professional football player and to represent Scotland one day, and she
was delighted to receive a surprise call from Shelley Kerr, the national coach, giving her encouragement to follow
her dream.
The bottom line here is the change in attitude. While adults were once perhaps a little sceptical about including young people in decision-making, many organisations now have young people’s panels to complement their wider boards. Scottish Golf, Cycling, Swimming and Scottish Sports Future have been involving young people in various roles for many years.
We no longer discount the thoughts of young people and – more importantly – we no longer tell young girls and women that “they can’t”! If they want to play sport professionally, girls are now encouraged and supported in this ambition. This is in no small way down to the many pioneers in women’s sports that have gone before them, paving the way for future generations.
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