Body Confident Sport is a global initiative that aims to stop girls from dropping out of sport because of body image concerns. It includes two programs: Body Confident Coaching and Body Confident Athletes.

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The programs were designed collaboratively between girls and coaches, with leading experts and brands in body image and sport. They are informed by the latest scientific research and have proven to work.

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Body Confident Coaching is a web-based, self-guided program that provides coaches with the knowledge and skills to create positive body image environments for their athletes.

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Body Confident Athletes is an in-person, coach-led program that provides girls with the knowledge and skills to feel body confident when playing sport.

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The programs are complementary, but they can stand alone. For example, a coach might complete Body Confident Coaching before delivering Body Confident Athletes to their athletes; but, this is not compulsory nor necessary.

Anyone who works closely with girls or who is an influential role model within girls’ sport, can and will benefit from Body Confident Coaching. This includes coaches, physical education teachers, strength and conditioning trainers, athletic directors, referees, parents and caring adults.

The program was designed to be delivered by coaches or trusted adults within girls’ sport environments (e.g., physical education teachers, athletic directors). The program can be delivered by coaches of any gender; the important thing is that the person delivering the program is trusted and respected by the athletes.

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To create a cohesive and safe learning environment, we encourage that the same coach or trusted adult delivers all sessions in the program. The program comprises a combination of activities, including group discussions, writing and movement. Therefore, we ask that coaches familiarize themselves with the Introduction and Overview section of the Coach’s Session Guide, which outlines how to prepare for each session and ensure that appropriate resources and equipment are in place.

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In the event that coaches cannot deliver the program in-person, it is possible to deliver the program online; however, this is only recommended if in-person delivery is not possible and would result in the program not being delivered.

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Body Confident Athletes was designed for girls aged 11–17 years who play sports. The program topics have been carefully designed to address concerns that are relevant to girls within this age group. For non-binary athletes or young people who are questioning their gender identity, please explore their comfort and relatability to the content, as this will inform whether they participate and potentially benefit from the program.

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The content, structure and format of Body Confident Athletes were informed by the scientific evidence on girls’ body image and sport experiences. It was also tested with girls aged 11–17 years. Therefore, we recommend not delivering this program to young people outside of this demographic, including boys, girls aged 10 years and younger, and girls with Disabilities (e.g., Hearing, Vision or Intellectual Disabilities).

The programs are intended to be completed once; with girls and coaches encouraged to revisit the content as and when necessary. For example, a coach may choose to complete the Body Confident Coaching modules including engaging with the additional resources (e.g., read books, listen to podcasts), and then complete the modules in another 12 months. In the case of Body Confident Athletes, coaches may choose to deliver the program to each new cohort of athletes that they come into contact with. Overall, how coaches and sport organizations engage with the Body Confident Sport programs will require a level of judgment that is based on their specific situation and context.

A program is considered evidence-based when it undergoes rigorous scientific testing to ensure that it has the intended impact on the user(s).

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We used the latest scientific research on girls’ body image, sports participation, mental health and wellbeing to inform the topics and activities used in the Body Confident Sport programs. Second, our programs have been reviewed by girls and coaches to ensure that they meet their needs. That is, we ensured that the topics were relatable, the activities were easy and enjoyable to complete, and that the programs could be easily embedded into girls' and coaches' current schedules. Third, we used scientific methods to test whether the programs changed girls’ and coaches’ attitudes and behaviors towards body confidence and sport - and guess what? They did! Both Body Confident Coaching and Body Confident Athletes have been scientifically proven to positively impact girls and coaches.

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Based on this rigorous research journey, we can assure you that participating in the Body Confident Sport programs is both an enjoyable and impactful experience!

What Coaches said:

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“I think all coaches should be trained on this.”

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“I liked that it provided a space for the female athletes within our organization to talk freely and where they felt heard.”

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“If I worked within an organization that has numerous coaches, I could imagine that this could be a powerful tool to jump start conversations about how we coach young women, how our words impact them, and what we can do better to improve their overall experience with sport.”

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“I learned so much and feel better equipped to coach female athletes.”

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“I really liked the format of starting with definitions to make sure everyone’s on the same page. I also really liked the checklist format because it was clear, rather than having a ton of huge paragraphs. I saved some of the articles and will go back to them throughout the year.”

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“Overall message of the program is amazing.”

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What Girls said:

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“The program gave me new information on my body I hadn’t thought of.”

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“I liked it because it gave us space to write down our thoughts when it was sometimes hard to put our answers into words.”

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“I liked hearing other girls talk about similar struggles and knowing I'm not alone.”