Pro:Direct, the English Schools’ FA, adidas and The Goalposts League join forces to launch the Pro:Direct Super Schools League
Pro:Direct Soccer, the World’s largest online specialist sports store, has teamed up with the English Schools’ FA (ESFA), the National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England, adidas and The Goalposts League to introduce an exciting new initiative – the inaugural Pro:Direct Super Schools League. The league kicked off on Monday 12 June and features six schools from the East London area.
The primary objective of the Pro:Direct Super Schools League, is to promote and encourage greater girls’ football participation, outside of school hours. Current statistics indicate that approximately 60% of schools fail to provide equal extracurricular football opportunities to girls, in comparison to boys. Pro:Direct Soccer aim to address this disparity by creating a platform that empowers and inspires young girls to engage in the beautiful game.
According to recent research, an astounding 68% of girls also expressed a fear of judgement as a significant barrier preventing them from participating in football activities. To tackle this, Pro:Direct Soccer have acquired the support of the Goalposts League, a 5-a-side football league in London where women and non-binary people of all levels are welcome to play, to develop a safe and inclusive space for girls to enjoy the sport without fear of being judged. This nurturing environment will enable participants to embrace their passion for football while having fun and building confidence.
The Pro:Direct Super Schools League will offer a range of exciting out-of-school opportunities for girls to showcase their skills, develop teamwork and experience the joy of football. Through the league, Pro:Direct aims to create a transformative experience that not only encourages girls to play football but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and friendship among the participants.
“We are thrilled to partner with the ESFA, adidas and The Goalposts League to launch the Pro:Direct Super Schools League” said Tim Bayliss, Head of Brand Development & Growth at Pro:Direct. “These likeminded brands all have a collective ambition to make football more readily available for her and the Super Schools League will serve as a catalyst for change, challenging the existing barriers that limit girls’ out-of-school participation in football”. Shameek Farrell, founder of The Goalposts League explained “We want to facilitate their personal growth on the pitch, support them with their endeavours away from the pitch, fuel their fire to learn and, most importantly, demonstrate that this is their game and that the possibilities are endless”
Kathryn Swarbrick, General Manager and SVP, adidas Northern Europe said, “The upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup is an exciting time for fans nationwide, with the potential to continue to ignite a passion for football among young girls. Nonetheless, the persistent obstacles of liited access and insufficient support hinder their regular participation in the sport. To address this challenge, our collaboration with PDS, Goalposts League and the ESFA will create a ground-breaking initiative that provides schoolgirls with equal opportunities to play football on a consistent basis”
The National Governing Body for Schools’ Football in England.