Giving Girls Their First Experience of Football
Free football for girls aged 4–7
At Coerver Futures CIC, one of our key ambitions is to give more girls the chance to discover football at an early age.
Across London, we are working with Coerver Coaching accredited providers to deliver free football sessions for girls aged 4–7. These sessions are designed to remove barriers to participation and give young girls a fun, positive introduction to the game.
By making these sessions free and accessible, we aim to ensure that every girl who wants to try football has the opportunity to do so — regardless of financial circumstances.
What the sessions look like
Our sessions are delivered by Coerver Coaching accredited coaches, using a proven coaching methodology that focuses on fun, creativity and skill development. Sessions are designed specifically for young children.
In a typical session you can expect:
- Fun ball mastery activities
- Small games and challenges
- Movement and coordination exercises
- Positive encouragement and confidence building
The emphasis is always on enjoyment, participation and development, rather than competition. Every session aims to create an environment where girls feel comfortable, confident and excited to return the following week.
Building pathways into grassroots football
These sessions are not only about introducing girls to football — they are also about helping them continue their journey in the game. Coerver Futures works closely with local grassroots football clubs across London to ensure there is a clear pathway for girls who want to keep playing.
- Help girls transition smoothly from introductory sessions into club football
- Support grassroots clubs to grow their girls’ teams
- Create stronger local opportunities for female players
- Encourage long-term participation in the game
By connecting our programmes with grassroots clubs, we help ensure that a girl’s first experience of football can lead to a lasting involvement in the sport.
Why we are doing this
Research and experience in grassroots football show that many girls miss out on the opportunity to try football at a young age. Boys are often introduced to the game earlier through family, friends or informal play, while girls frequently discover the sport later or not at all.
Why early experience matters
- Build confidence through sport
- Develop coordination, balance and basic movement skills
- Learn teamwork and communication
- Develop a lifelong enjoyment of physical activity
By introducing football between the ages of 4 and 7, we create an environment where girls can learn through play, develop fundamental skills and build positive early experiences of sport. Our goal is simple: help more girls fall in love with football from the very beginning.