Women’s sport on the table
Making women’s sport more visible and encouraging young people are ways of promoting more females into sport, experts say.
Sport Manawatu¯ held a girls and women in sport breakfast at the Sport and Rugby Institute at Massey University yesterday, where guest speakers talked about how they got to where they are in sport, then discussed ideas.
Guest speakers were New Zealand Football president and Fifa executive committee member Johanna Wood, Manawatu¯ under19 netball co-captain Suraya Goss, player agent Kelly Evans and hockey coach Verity Sharland, who has taken the Central under18 team to the past three national titles.
Massey professor of leadership Sarah Leberman compered the event.
Wood spoke about the different roles of women in sport, the highlights and barriers, and ideas about how to progress.
‘‘We talked about women being visible in sport, having the opportunities and encouraging young people, young women particularly, to take any opportunity.’’
She said women had been involved for a long time, but hadn’t been visible.
Wood is a former Red Soxmanawatu¯ stalwart and had a long involvement with Central Football.
Sharland said a diverse group attended, from athletes, coaches, people in governance and parents.
‘‘It’s about trying to connect the women we have in the community and for everyone to recognise their value.’’
She said it was important to appreciate what skills people brought to the table.
Leberman said the future was young people, so there had to be equal opportunities for women.
‘‘It’s just great to celebrate the range of experts that we have in women’s sport in Manawatu¯ – the wide range of people involved at all levels, mainly as volunteers, from the club right through to international.’’