Women’s sport is accelerating on the world stage. From record attendances at major football tournaments to ballooning viewership for professional women’s basketball, female athletes are redefining what success looks like in sport and leadership. This momentum reflects a deeper truth about the role of athletics in girls’ lives, cultivating confidence, discipline and leadership that extend beyond their sport.
At St. Margaret’s School (SMS) in Victoria, this insight has led to football and ballet programs designed to support girls as student-athletes from early development through to high-performance competition, with grassroots (Kindergarten to Grade 7), development (Grade 7 to 9) and academy (Grade 10 to 12) levels.
“This is a moment of extraordinary growth in women’s sport globally,” says Sara Blair, CEO and head of school at St. Margaret’s School. “Our academies are developed to give girls the skills, confidence and leadership mindset to excel in sport, in school and in life.”
SMS’s academies are enriched through world-class partnerships. At all levels, football student-athletes train with Pacific FC, while ballet students learn from the acclaimed faculty of the Victoria Academy of Ballet.
The benefits of sport participation extend well beyond physical development. Girls who play sports demonstrate higher levels of self-esteem and confidence. These experiences also correlate with leadership outcomes later in life. Research consistently shows that the majority of women in executive leadership roles played sports during their formative years.
Sport takes different forms at every age of development for girls. Kindergarten to Grade 7 introduces foundational skills, teamwork and the joy of movement in a supportive environment. Coaches help girls build confidence in their bodies and abilities, laying a strong foundation for growth.
In Grades 7 to 9, girls experience a more structured training environment that balances athletic challenge with leadership development. Athletes refine technical skills while learning discipline, resilience, and collaboration.
In Grades 10 to 12, athletes reach high-performance levels, often accompanied by rigorous academic demands, opportunities to coach or be a mentor and a focus on university-level sport and future careers.
The benefits of a girls’ school environment can help balance these opportunities and demands. Research shows that students in girls’ schools are more likely to take healthy risks, assume leadership roles and persist through challenges. In sport, this translates into confident play, strategic thinking and resilient teamwork.
Industry reporting shows that women’s sports revenues have grown significantly faster than men’s in recent years, alongside record-breaking broadcast audiences. Notably, NCAA women’s basketball viewership surpassed the men’s championship for the first time in history, signalling a shift in global attention and investment.
As women’s sport continues on its upward trajectory, parents, coaches and students need to be prepared to rise with the moment, equipped with the skills, confidence and leadership mindset to shape the future.
