Female athlete charter
At Optimise, we want to bring about real change.
Through education, partnership and setting the standards that female athletes of all ages would like clubs, schools and academies to aspire to.
This is more than just changing the colour of the kit. And it doesn’t need to cost money.
This is about understanding and acknowledging that girls and women’s bodies are different and creating the space, tools and environment to ensure that we too can reach our potential.
This charter is part of our vision of a world in which women and girls stay in sport, improve their long-term health and achieve their potential because they are equipped with the support and guidance to train with, rather than against, their bodies.
Sign up to this charter, display it on your website and social media to demonstrate that your club/school/academy has the vision, leadership and commitment to support girls and women to become more active, stay in sport and reach their full potential.
Optimise Foundation Female Athlete Charter
Our commitment
1. Inclusive participation:
We welcome girls and women of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to be active and participate in sport. We foster safe, supportive, and respectful spaces that are free from harassment, discrimination, and bias. We vow that no athlete will be made feel like they are penalised for their menstrual cycle or their gender.
2. Positive environments:
We ensure female-specific health needs are met, including through access to sanitary bins and free menstrual products. We emphasise the need for respectful, inclusive and open conversations to recognise and address the needs of each individual.
3. Education & Awareness:
We educate our coaches and students or club members about female physiology in sport, such as potential evidence-based training adjustments in response to phases of the menstrual cycle. We understand and vocalise the importance of tracking the menstrual cycle to support health, wellbeing and performance.
4. Athlete-centred Approaches:
We respect the unique physiological needs of each athlete and empower athletes to design and lead on their own individual strategies for training, fueling and recovery.
5. Open Conversations:
We consider female physiology as a vital consideration in physical activity and sport. We normalise conversations around the female body to improve health, well-being, and performance.
As our education focuses on the physiology of the female body, we use the terms ‘girl’ and ‘women’ to describe those born with XX chromosomes, female genital and reproductive organs. But we acknowledge that not all who menstruate identify this way.