Why Some Girls Drop Out of Football and How to Keep Them Playing

Football is one of the most popular sports for girls in the UK. Thousands of girls start playing at school or join local grassroots clubs, full of energy, excitement, and dreams. But as they grow older, many start drifting away from the game. By the age of 14, girls are twice as likely as boys to quit sport altogether and football is no exception.

So what causes this drop-off? And more importantly, what can we do to change it?

Below, we explore some of the most common reasons why girls leave the sport and what practical steps clubs, coaches, and parents can take to help girls stay engaged, excited to participate, and playing for longer.

Confidence Drops During Puberty

Puberty can be a challenging time for girls. Their bodies are changing, they’re becoming more aware of how others perceive them, and their confidence often takes a hit. This is also the age where many girls start comparing themselves to others especially in team environments. They may start to feel self-conscious in kit, avoid changing rooms, or worry they’re not “good enough” to compete. The pressure to perform or fear of making mistakes can make training sessions feel intimidating instead of enjoyable.

For many, it’s not about losing interest—it’s about losing confidence.

How to Help

Coaches and clubs can make a big difference by creating environments that prioritise psychological safety and belonging. This means celebrating effort, progress, and resilience not just skill or physical performance. Consider offering girls-only sessions where players can build trust and feel more relaxed. Allow for open conversations about confidence and normalise feelings of self-doubt as part of growing up. Avoid public criticism, and instead encourage supportive peer interactions. A girl who feels seen, heard, and supported is much more likely to stick with the game.

Lack of Female Role Models

Representation matters. If girls rarely see women playing, coaching, or leading in football, it can reinforce the message, subtly or directly, that the sport isn’t “for them.

Without female role models, girls may begin to believe that there’s no long-term place for them in the sport.

How to Help

Actively promote female visibility at all levels of the game. This could include inviting local women’s players to visit training sessions, sharing stories of female footballers on social media, or encouraging older girls to take on leadership roles within younger squads. Where possible, hire or train female coaches and volunteers, seeing a woman in charge of a session can be incredibly powerful. Girls need to see football as something they can be a part of at every stage from grassroots to elite, from player to coach.

Social Pressures and Changing Priorities

As girls move into their teenage years, their priorities often shift. Social circles become more important, academic pressure increases, and the appeal of other activities grows. If their friends don’t play football, they might feel torn between training and socialising. For some, football can start to feel like a chore rather than a passion, especially if the sessions become overly focused on performance and less about enjoyment.

Many girls leave not because they fall out of love with football, but because other parts of life start pulling them in different directions.

How to Help

Make football a place where girls want to be. Sessions should feel enjoyable, varied, and social, not just competitive. Focus on team bonding, laughter, and shared experience. Mix in small-sided games, fun challenges, or off-pitch team activities to build connections beyond the game. The more adaptable and welcoming your program is, the more likely girls will stay engaged even when life gets busy.

Negative Coaching Experiences

One bad experience can stick with a player for a long time. Being shouted at in front of teammates, feeling left out of practices, or being benched without explanation can all contribute to a sense of failure or rejection. For girls who are already doubting themselves, this kind of environment can be the final push to walk away.

Negative coaching doesn't have to be aggressive to be damaging. A lack of feedback, ignoring quieter players, or focusing only on top performers can lead to some girls feeling invisible.

How to Help

Adopt a player-centred coaching style. This means focusing on the whole individual, not just their performance. Build relationships, ask questions, listen to concerns, and encourage feedback. Praise improvement and effort consistently, not just outcomes. Make sure all players are included and rotated fairly. If mistakes happen, treat them as learning opportunities, not moments of shame. When girls feel safe, valued, and supported, they’re much more likely to keep showing up, even when they face challenges.

Lack of Opportunities and Progression Pathways

In some clubs or communities, girls' football opportunities dry up after a certain age. There may be no U14 or U16 team, or no clear step forward after school-level football. Girls may assume that once they hit their mid-teens, their playing days are over, especially if they’re not on a high-performance path.

Without visible, accessible pathways, many girls simply fade out of the game.

How to Help

Clubs and coaches can work to build or promote sustainable pathways for girls to continue playing. This includes creating or linking with U14, U16, and women’s teams, as well as offering transition support between age groups. Show girls what’s possible, not just through elite football, but also through coaching, refereeing, sport media, and fitness. Make long-term participation feel possible and exciting. Even small steps, like giving players leadership roles or involving them in planning sessions, can help them stay connected to the game.

Final Thoughts

Girls don’t give up football because they don’t care. They give up because too often, the environment around them stops working for them. They don’t see themselves in the sport. They lose confidence. Life gets in the way. And when they look around for support, it’s not always there.

But this can change.

By listening to girls, adapting to their needs, and building welcoming, inclusive, and empowering spaces, we can help them not just stay in the game, but thrive in it.

Football has the power to build strength, identity, and confidence in girls. Let’s do everything we can to make sure they never feel like they have to leave it behind.