Supporting Female Students in Sport: Practical Strategies for Health, Performance and Wellbeing

Session Description

Across schools, teachers and coaches are seeing increasing numbers of female students presenting with low energy, fatigue, disengagement, body image concerns and inconsistent performance in sport and physical education. While these challenges are often addressed in isolation, they are typically driven by a more complex interplay of physical, mental and emotional factors. This practical professional learning session is designed to help educators better understand what is happening beneath the surface, and how it is showing up in their students. Drawing on insights from working with over 25,000 girls across schools and sporting environments, this session will focus on two key areas impacting participation and performance: energy availability (including under-fuelling and fatigue) and body image. Participants will explore how these challenges present in school settings, why they are increasing, and how they are often interconnected. Through real-world examples, guided reflection and simple, actionable strategies, educators will learn how to recognise early warning signs, use more supportive and effective language, and create environments that prioritise both health and performance. This session is designed to give teachers practical tools they can implement immediately, while building greater confidence to support female students and continue these important conversations within their school communities.

Learning Outcomes

• Recognise early signs of under-fuelling, fatigue and body image concerns in female students
• Understand how physical, mental and emotional factors interact to influence participation, performance and wellbeing
• Apply simple, practical strategies to support female students in PE and sport settings
• Use more effective and supportive language when discussing health, performance and body image
• Feel more confident initiating and continuing conversations with students, parents and colleagues around female health

Curriculum Level

7 - 12

Keywords

Food and Nutrition, Health Literacy, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Student Engagement

Presentation Type

Classroom Workshop
F
15