Policy on Women in Sport

Women in Sport is central to the work of Sport Ireland. Since 2005, the Sport Ireland ‘Women in Sport’ Programme has funded a wide range of initiatives delivered by National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) to further the agenda of gender equality in sport.

Following an extensive project throughout 2018, Sport Ireland published its new Women in Sport (WIS) Policy in March 2019. The policy outlines Sport Ireland’s vision for women in sport as one where females have an equal opportunity to achieve their full potential, while enjoying a lifelong involvement in sport.

Sport Ireland is committed to increasing females’ sustained involvement in sport as coaches, volunteers, club members, athletes, advocates, leaders, and participants from grassroots to the podium. Through the WIS Policy, Sport Ireland identified four key areas, which have emerged as current gaps and future opportunities for women in sport.

To address these target areas, Sport Ireland is focused on achieving objectives assigned to each.

Coaching & Officiating

  • Broaden the coaching base to include more women from grassroots to high performance
  • Increase the number of women officiating and refereeing

Active Participation

  • Significantly reduce the active sport participation gradient between men and women
  • Reduce the drop-out from physical activity and sport in young girls

Leadership & Governance

  • Progress towards greater gender balance in Board membership of funded bodies
  • Provide a pathway for women aspiring to become leaders of funded bodies

Visibility

  • Increase the visibility and profile of our female role models in sport
  • Use the heroes of today to inspire the next generation of Olympians and Paralympians
Women in Sport Policy