Finally … the team! Navigating obstacles in girls’ access to football

The article provides educational and pedagogical insights to strengthen the inclusiveness of girls who decide to participate in a female football team. The article presents a bottom-up content analysis to explore the experiences of Italian girls gaining access to women's football, identifying four key phases: (1) informal football experiences; (2) the search for a female team; (3) parental resistance; and (4) joining a female team. In informal football matches, girls face discriminatory attitudes from boys, but affirm their equality by showcasing their playing skills. At the exo-system level, girls face challenges finding local girls' teams due to geographical distance. Such obstacle forces some of them to join male teams. The girls also encounter parental resistance rooted in stereotypical views of women's bodies and cultural ideals about suitable sports for women. Some girls overcome these challenges, expressing their passion and feelings to their parents, while others are met with less favorable outcomes. Joining a female team is finally described as being symbolic of support and solidarity among the girls, marking a significant and positive change in their overall football experience. The study highlights the interconnected influence of macro, meso, and microystems shaping girls' access to football.