The recent string of good fortune in English women’s sport should not be squandered and should be a building block for sustaining success and more opportunities for women’s sports, says Flora Peel, the England representative in hockey. The successes, she noted, have given fans and youngsters a surge of excitement during the summer and now the task has become ongoing to keep that momentum going.
It is one of the most important factors in developing women’s sport, Peel said. Prominent media coverage and greater numbers of spectators are providing insight for female participants in TV programs that couldn’t always be done before. She believes that ongoing investments will help to sustain these gains after a successful summer.
The England defender also emphasised the need for opportunities to be created at grassroots. Local clubs, schools and community programmes have an important role to play helping young girls grow in confidence and skills before they become elite, she revealed. It is good to get them involved at an early stage so their future in women’s sport will be enhanced.
Role models can make a difference for the next generation, says Peel. Children are motivated to have a larger vision and to stay active with sport through watching England’s women next to their goals. She noted that the message to the athletes is this: “If you can, encourage and support young athletes.
She added that to ensure continued success she knew sports organisations, sponsors and supporters need to continue to support them. It is crucial that training, equipment and talent development are funded to ensure that women’s hockey continues its development and is able to challenge the best of the world.
It’s spurred by an increasing interest in women’s sport in England and Peel is hoping this summer will not just be remembered as a great success, but also as the first in a series of new beginnings. She thinks that if they can build on the success they’ve had, then hockey and women’s sports, more generally can have a better future all around.
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