As the Matildas prepare to contest the Asian Cup final this Saturday, Australia is once again celebrating women’s sport at its best. The Tillies’ success is the product of talent, investment and environments that support women to thrive. But for many girls at community and school level, the pathway into – and through – sport is quietly breaking down much earlier.
One of the least discussed turning points comes at puberty. For many girls, the start of menstruation coincides with the age when sport participation drops. Periods can affect energy, mood and comfort, but they also bring a new set of practical problems: what to wear, where to change, how to manage pain and the ever-present fear of leaking.
What feels personal is, in fact, systemic.
Our research shows that nearly one in five girls aged 10 to16 are considering dropping out of sport because of period-related challenges. Around two-thirds report missing training and one in three miss competition altogether.
Close to 92 per cent worry about leaking or bleeding through uniforms, while more than 75 per cent reported being unable to change their period protection during competitions.
But the problem isn’t girls’ periods.
It’s the silence and stigma around them, particularly in environments built on routine, uniforms, shared spaces and “tough it out” sporting culture.
Self-consciousness, fear of leaks, teasing and uncertainty about how adults will respond can make sport feel risky at precisely the age when girls are deciding whether to stay involved
At the same time, the basics are often missing. Many schools and sports clubs still lack basic disposal options, period products and access to private, equipped spaces for girls to change.
Competition schedules can also mean being in kit for hours with no easy way to change protection, particularly in sports with restrictive uniforms.
If we’re serious about keeping girls in sport – and shaping the next generation of Matildas – we need to treat menstrual support as part of inclusion and athlete welfare, not a niche addon.
The good news: making sport more period friendly doesn’t require big budgets or specialist staff. It requires small, deliberate changes that signal to girls: you belong here all month.
1. Put products where girls need them – without having to ask
If a girl has to ask a coach teacher, or teammate for a pad or tampon, the barrier isn’t just access. It’s embarrassment. A simple “help yourself” approach matters: a small basket in toilets and changerooms, and a discreet backup supply in first aid kits or a coach’s bag for venues without facilities.
This also helps girls who are new to menstruation, have irregular cycles, or experience sudden heavy bleeding, common realities in early adolescence.
2. Fix the environment: privacy, bins, water and soap
Access is not just about toilets existing. It’s about whether girls can use them when they need to, change products privately, wash hands and dispose of products safely.
Globally, fewer than one in three schools have bins for menstrual waste in girls’ toilets, which is a basic dignity issue and can also create anxiety about leaks and smells.
In sport venues, the equivalent is ensuring toilets are unlocked during training and competition; cubicles have bins; and there’s soap and water available. These are low-glamour changes, but they remove a disproportionate amount of stress.
3. Make uniforms less risky (and give girls choice)
Uniform anxiety is one of the most cited reasons girls withdraw during their period, especially with light colours, tight fits or sports where clothing is minimal. High-profile changes, like moving away from white shorts, have been adopted in some elite contexts specifically to address period anxiety and these decisions send a powerful signal down to community sport.
At a club level, simple options help: allow dark shorts or skirts, provide alternative fits and make “compression shorts under kit” acceptable. Choice reduces anxiety without lowering standards. It’s also important to make period sport kit cost-neutral with other standard options to ensure these options are accessible for all participants.
4. Train coaches, teachers and parents in “period confident” communication
Many adults avoid the topic because they’re worried about saying the wrong thing. But girls interpret avoidance as confirmation that periods are shameful.
Resources for Health and Physical Education and sport educators emphasise that it’s appropriate to talk about periods in the same way we talk about hydration, sleep and injury prevention, and that using clear language – including saying “period” – helps reduce stigma.
5. Build flexibility into participation – without punishment or shame
Rigid participation rules can push girls out. Period symptoms – pain, fatigue, headaches and low mood – can fluctuate. The global literature also highlights a bidirectional relationship: menstruation can reduce physical activity because of symptoms and stigma, while physical activity can relieve symptoms for some. That means girls benefit most when sport allows them to adapt rather than opt out entirely.
Flexibility can be simple, from offering modified training to allowing short breaks without drawing attention. When girls can adjust safely, they’re more likely to stay engaged long term.
Because periods are a predictable part of many athletes’ lives for decades. When sport environments force girls to manage periods privately, without education, resources or supportive norms, girls don’t just miss sessions. They learn that their bodies are “a problem” to be hidden.
By contrast, when sport treats menstruation as normal, girls gain confidence, continuity and a stronger sense of belonging.
The five changes above won’t solve everything but together they do something powerful: they remove the secrecy tax girls pay to participate.
As our women’s national soccer team take the field this weekend, their success reminds us what’s possible when women are supported to stay in sport.
But true equity in sport means more than celebrating success at the top – it means creating environments where girls are supported to keep playing, period.