As part of the celebrations for International Day of the Girl 2021, ICOACHKIDS hosted a compelling conversation with one of football’s most respected trailblazers: Rachel Yankey, OBE. A former England international and a pioneering figure in women’s football, Yankey sat down with Viv Holt of Youth Sport Trust International to reflect on her journey, the challenges she faced, and the importance of creating supportive environments for girls in sport.
Yankey’s story is one of perseverance, passion, and unwavering belief in the power of sport to transform lives. In the interview, she recounts her earliest experiences in football—moments that shaped not only her playing career but also her perspective on what young girls need in order to thrive. As one of the first girls to push through barriers in a predominantly male sporting culture, she highlights the obstacles she faced, from limited access to opportunities to societal expectations around who “belongs” in football.
Despite these challenges, Yankey carved out a path that would lead her to become one of England’s most capped players and an influential advocate for girls in sport. Her reflections in the interview underscore the importance of visibility and representation. Seeing women in high‑performance roles, she notes, sends a powerful message to young girls that they too can aspire to greatness in any sporting arena. This theme aligns with ICOACHKIDS’ continuous efforts to promote inclusive coaching practices and ensure that girls feel welcomed, valued, and empowered in sport.
Beyond her personal journey, the conversation touches on broader systemic issues facing girls today. Yankey and Holt discuss how community support, positive coaching, and accessible pathways can help girls stay engaged in sport during adolescence—a stage when participation often drops significantly. Their discussion reinforces a key objective shared by ICOACHKIDS: engaging and retaining more girls and women in sport.
To help coaches and organisations achieve this, ICOACHKIDS encourages the use of practical tools such as the Nike Made to Play Coaching Girls Guide, which offers tangible strategies to help girls build confidence, develop skills, and enjoy sport in safe and inclusive environments. The video forms part of a wider suite of resources available through ICOACHKIDS, all designed to champion child‑centred coaching principles that put young people first.
The significance of this interview reached beyond the ICOACHKIDS community; organisations such as the International Council for Coaching Excellence also promoted the conversation at the time, further amplifying its message about the importance of representation and support for girls in sport.
Ultimately, the interview with Rachel Yankey, OBE, serves as both an inspiring personal story and a call to action. It reminds coaches, educators, and sporting bodies of the crucial role they play in shaping girls’ experiences and ensuring that sport is a place where every girl feels she belongs.
You can watch the full interview below
Engaging more girls and women in sport is a key priority for ICOACHKIDS. Along with our own initiatives we invite you to also explore the Nike Made to Play Coaching Girls Guide to explore strategies for engaging and retaining girls in sport.
