Women-Friendly Club Participation Checklist

Visibility & first contact

• 1. Women and girls are visibly represented in current club information and imagery without tokenising them.
• 2. Public information explains who the activity is for without assuming prior club knowledge.
• 3. A new participant can find a named contact or clear contact route.
• 4. Costs, equipment requirements and eligibility are stated before registration.
• 5. The first-session experience is explained: arrival, check-in, duration, clothing/equipment and what happens next.
• 6. Marketing does not rely on body shame, fear or stereotypes about women.

Cost, equipment, timing & caring

• 7. The club understands the whole cost of participation, not only the session fee.
• 8. Equipment-loan or low-cost options are clear where available.
• 9. Any bursary/support process asks only for proportionate information.
• 10. Session times are reviewed for work, caring and public-transport realities.
• 11. Finish times are communicated as accurately as possible.
• 12. Parent-friendly arrangements are described honestly; accompanying children are not treated as informal club childcare.
• 13. Travel and parking information is available before attendance.
• 14. Late-night or multi-day competition travel is included in participation planning.

Arrival, venue & facilities

• 15. A woman arriving alone can work out where to go and who to speak to.
• 16. Toilets are usable, private, maintained and have appropriate sanitary disposal.
• 17. Period products are available where feasible or nearby access is explained.
• 18. Water and reasonable food access are considered for long sessions/events.
• 19. Accessibility information is available before attendance.
• 20. Seating/rest opportunities are considered.
• 21. Sensory and communication information is available where relevant.
• 22. Changing arrangements are appropriate to the activity and participants.
• 23. Pregnancy/postnatal, menopause and disability adjustments can be discussed privately.

Coaching & language

• 24. Coaches ask what the player wants from the sport rather than assuming her ambition.
• 25. Coaching time and quality are not routinely lower for women’s sessions.
• 26. Feedback is specific to the player rather than based on stereotypes about women.
• 27. Coaches avoid casual body/weight commentary.
• 28. Coaches do not diagnose menstrual, menopause, REDs, pregnancy, disability or neurodivergence issues.
• 29. Physical coaching contact is preceded by appropriate consent.
• 30. Women are not expected to tolerate degrading comments as sporting banter.

Safety, safeguarding & culture

• 31. Safeguarding and complaint routes are visible.
• 32. There is an alternative reporting route if the concern involves the usual contact.
• 33. Harassment, misogyny, sexualised comments and discriminatory behaviour are challenged.
• 34. People who raise concerns are protected from retaliation or loss of opportunity as far as organisational processes can provide.
• 35. Alcohol-led social culture is not the only route to belonging.
• 36. Girls are not casually absorbed into adult arrangements without youth safeguarding review.
• 37. Transport/overnight arrangements involving under-18s follow approved safeguarding procedures.
• 38. The organisation knows how ordinary feedback differs from a safeguarding disclosure.

Women-only, mixed & playing opportunity

• 39. The purpose of women-only activity is clear and reviewed rather than assumed.
• 40. Mixed activity is assessed for actual inclusion, not merely open entry.
• 41. Women have meaningful access to tables, boards, practice time and coaching.
• 42. Competition formats do not unnecessarily create avoidable waiting, travel or late-finish barriers.
• 43. Prize, presentation, commentary and media treatment are reviewed for unnecessary gender disparity.
• 44. Social or bar arrangements do not determine who gains sporting information or influence.

Progression, representation & leadership

• 45. The club publishes or clearly explains the pathway from first session to regular participation.
• 46. Players can see how to enter leagues, tournaments and representative opportunities.
• 47. Selection criteria are documented where selection exists.
• 48. Non-selection can be accompanied by useful development feedback where appropriate.
• 49. Coaching, officiating and volunteer pathways are visible to women.
• 50. Leadership opportunities are advertised rather than filled only through informal networks.
• 51. Women are represented in decision-making without relying on a single woman to represent every female participant.
• 52. Mentoring and development opportunities address system access as well as individual confidence.

Retention, feedback & action

• 53. The club asks participants what helps them stay, not only whether they enjoyed one session.
• 54. A leaving/taking-a-break route is available without guilt or sales pressure.
• 55. Feedback, requests for contact, testimonials and safeguarding reports are kept as separate purposes/routes.
• 56. The organisation looks for patterns in barriers while protecting identities in small groups.
• 57. Attendance, retention, belonging, safety, voice and progression are considered together.
• 58. A barrier/action log records what was raised, what action was taken, who owns it and when it will be reviewed.
• 59. Participants are told what changed: “You said — we did / we are exploring / we cannot change this because…”.
• 60. The club repeats the review rather than treating inclusion as a one-off campaign.

Suggested internal maturity descriptions

Starting: barriers are recognised and basic actions identified. Developing: practical improvements are being implemented. Inclusive Practice: participant feedback and progression are built into operations. Leading Practice: women and girls help shape systems and the organisation can evidence how barriers are identified and addressed.

These labels are for development only. They are not an Eights and Arrows accreditation or badge.

How to use it

Do not count ticks and publish a percentage. Record evidence, gaps, owner, action and review date. One serious safeguarding or safety failure can matter more than dozens of completed low-risk items.