Women participating within sport is on the rise. The focus is not only on increasing on pre-teen and teen participation within sport but it is shifting towards young adults too. Third Level Institutes have seen an increase in popularity in athletics with the idea of Social Runs. The idea behind it is to join a group of like minded individuals and go for a jog in a non-competitive environment. Many jogging 5k with a cup of coffee and a chat afterwards. Many colleges have adapted this into their weekly training sessions, increasing awareness for sports participation. However, colleges are now actively encouraging female students to participate in sports.
Back in September Sports and Societies Officer Dr. Bronagh McGrane from Dundalk Institute of Technology held a project known as TryItAll. An initiative to encourage female college students to become more active and to participate in sport. Dr McGrane found that within a college setting girls are afraid to participate in sport as it is perceived as too competitive or they simply won’t join in if they don’t know anybody. For DKIT their goal is to create a setting where female students feel comfortable and empowered to participate in sport but to also enhance the overall well-being of their students.
The project was launched with a Q & A session with Irish Olympian Kate O’Connor. The Heptathlete shared her journey that led her to the Olympic Games in Paris. Speaking with DKIT AC members afterwards, Anastaisa Drakoulaki was amazed to see her sport being represented on the big stage. For Anastaisa representation is important for her in athletics, as last year she was the only female athlete competing for the college and now this year she has two more female athletes to keep her company in the club. Joining her this year Rebecca Murphy who was in attendance for O’Connors talk, highlighted how for her to hear how the journey to success isn’t always a straight road meant a lot. Murphy also found it inspirational to see Kate O’Connor an Idol of her sport attend her college.
For TryItAll female students got to attend various recreational sport training sessions from basketball, soccer to rugby. If they attended three sessions they received a TryItAll Jersey. This initiative was successful for Dundalk Institute of Technology as they have now seen an increase in females participating in various sports and societies. Dundalk Institute of Technology look forward to Women In Sport Week, where they hope to further encourage female active participation in sport.
