For Parents: Supporting Girls to Stay in Sport

For parents and carers

The silent conversations

Sometimes you see the change in behaviour before you hear the words.

  • She stops wanting you to watch.
  • She arrives already changed.
  • She pulls at her kit more.
  • She doesn't want photos taken.
  • She suddenly "can't be bothered" with training.

It can look like she's losing interest in sport.

But sometimes, she hasn't lost interest in the sport at all. Something around it has changed.

As girls grow, they become more aware of their bodies, other people, attention and how they might be seen. And they don't always know how to explain that.

So before assuming she wants to stop, look for the silent conversations.

"Don't watch me"

The girl who once shouted "look at me!" might suddenly ask you not to watch.

That doesn't always mean she doesn't want your support. She may just feel more aware of being watched.

The same goes for cheering from the sideline. What once felt encouraging can suddenly feel like a spotlight.

Try asking

"Do you still like me cheering, or would you rather I kept it quieter?"

Getting changed

Changing in front of teammates can feel very different once puberty starts. She may become more conscious of her body long before she's ready to talk about it.

If she starts arriving already dressed, avoiding showers or hanging back in the changing room, don't assume she's being awkward.

Try asking

"Is there anything that would make getting changed easier?"

The kit

A kit can technically fit and still feel completely wrong.

Shorts might ride up. A bib might cling. A top might feel too tight across her chest. She might suddenly feel uncomfortable in something she's worn for years.

Don't just ask: "Does it fit?"

Ask

"Do you feel comfortable in it?"

Sports bras

Breast development can make running, jumping and changing uncomfortable before a girl has the words to ask for help.

A sports bra isn't a big conversation. It's sports equipment.

Sometimes all she needs is someone to quietly say:

Try asking

"Would you feel more comfortable with a sports bra for training?"

Periods

Would she know what to do if her period started unexpectedly at training? Would she have to ask an adult in front of everyone?

A simple period kit in her kit bag can remove a lot of anxiety. Or ask her coach whether the team's first-aid box has one.

Pads. Spare underwear. Disposal bags.

Nothing dramatic. Just there if she needs it.

Photos and social media

A photo you see with pride might be one she feels self-conscious about. And other people may see it through a very different lens.

A match photo can be screenshotted, shared or commented on in ways you never intended.

Before you post, ask

"Are you happy for me to share this?"

Let her choose.

If she seems to be losing interest

Get curious before you assume.

Has the sport changed? Or has something around the sport changed?

Sometimes "I don't want to go" means exactly that.

But sometimes it means: "I don't know how to tell you that something feels different now."

That's why the silent conversations matter.

Why we built CHGConnect

These silent conversations don't only happen at home.

Coaches often see the change too: a quieter player, different body language, less confidence, less engagement. But they don't always know what's behind it.

We want to make these conversations easier, for the coach and for your daughter. That's one of the reasons we built CHGConnect.

First, the coach gets to know your daughter through a few questions she answers herself: how she likes to learn, and what support she needs. Then it gives the coach a way to hear from the whole team, spot changes earlier, and understand the human side of what their players are experiencing.

Because sometimes the behaviour changes before the words come.

Her check-in answers are anonymous, so her coach only ever sees how the team is doing as a whole. We only ask for her first name and surname initial, and we never show adverts or share anything for marketing.

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