Canadian Women & Sport Launches ‘Get Girl Coached’ to Keep Girls in the Game

Canadian Women & Sport, a national non-profit organization dedicated to creating equity and inclusion throughout Canada’s sport system, has launched a new national campaign: Get Girl Coached. This bold initiative is a direct response to the stark reality that half of Canadian girls drop out of sport by age 17, losing access to the powerful mental, social, and health benefits sport provides.

A Movement Built on Listening and Leadership

At the campaign’s center is KeepGirlsPlaying.ca, an all-in-one resource hub designed to inspire and equip coaches, policy makers, sport leaders, and corporate partners to fundamentally transform the sport environment for girls. The platform provides research-based tools, actionable steps, and stories contributed directly by Canadian girls themselves, redefining belonging in Canadian sport.

Allison Sandmeyer-Graves, CEO of Canadian Women & Sport, explains, “Sport hasn’t been built with girls’ needs in mind. Yet, 7 in 10 girls who play experience real mental health benefits. Imagine the impact if we designed sport for them, instead of asking girls to adapt.” The challenge, she asserts, is for everyone in sport and leadership: “Get Girl Coached, listen to girls, learn from them, and take action to build a space that’s made for them”.

From Huddle to Hub: The Power of Girls’ Voices

Timed with back-to-school season, Get Girl Coached debuted with a nationwide video: a young girl confidently blows her whistle and calls adults, coaches, administrators, and sponsors into a huddle. She lays out the team’s “game plan”: fairer court times, more resources, better representation, and sports spaces where girls’ voices truly matter. The campaign’s powerful message: let girls call the shots, and build sport systems that welcome their participation and leadership.

Tools Rooted in Evidence and Equity

KeepGirlsPlaying.ca isn’t just a website. It’s a robust, free toolkit developed from decades of research with girls across Canada. Spanning mental health support, program design, equity policies, and community-building, these resources empower local coaches, national sport organizations, and leagues to design sport environments where girls can thrive. The platform also features grant opportunities and policy templates to get everyone started.

Canada’s Broader Gender Equity Challenge

Amid growing concern over gender disparities, the Canadian government and Sport Canada have invested heavily to make sport more inclusive. Their 2035 Gender Equity in Sport initiative sets bold targets: more women represented at every level, from grassroots to leadership, with more than $55 million invested for equitable programming, research, and innovation between 2018 and 2024. Programs targeted toward Indigenous girls and other underrepresented groups also align with these broader strategic goals.

Leading partners like Team Canada’s Olympic Committee and global movements like the Women’s Sports Foundation contribute additional resources, mentoring, and support for sustainable change.

The Mission: Systemic, Sustainable Change

Canadian Women & Sport was founded in 1981 to push for systemic change—ensuring women and girls have opportunities not just as athletes, but as coaches, trainers, leaders, and officials. Their legacy includes relentless advocacy, research, and partnerships that remove barriers and create new paths for all girls—whether on the court, in the rink, or behind the bench.

Every year, Canadian Women & Sport’s Spotlight Grant and capacity-building programs fund hundreds of organizations and initiatives specifically focused on elevating girls’ sport access, experiences, and leadership training across Canada.

Join the Movement: Taking Action

• Explore free resources and inclusive strategies on KeepGirlsPlaying.ca.

• Share the Get Girl Coached campaign to engage your community, club, or company.

• Follow @womenandsportca on Instagram and @WomenandSportCA on X for ongoing news.

For detailed findings, policy recommendations, and inspiring stories, read the full Rally Report 2024. For deeper history or partnership opportunities, visit Canadian Women & Sport’s history and mission.