The overall aim of the project was to advocate against gender discrimination using football as the means of sports-based experiential learning in early education. The objectives of project were to (1) advance quality in early education through knowledge exchange from female footballers and physical education (PE) teachers, school leaders on gender segregation in sports, (2) address gender inequality using sport pedagogical approaches that can develop and empower girls’ leadership skills, (3) encourage sports experiential-based learning through mixed-gender games, (4) accelerate knowledge-sharing, virtual mentoring between PE early educators, school leaders and female footballers.
The 2020 EU Guidance report on Gender Equality in Education highlights the insufficient application of gender-equality strategies in early education, contributing to ongoing issues like gender exclusion and discrimination. Our project addressed this by using sports, specifically football, as a teaching tool to promote values like respect, fair play, and inclusion. Despite efforts by educational and public authorities to promote gender equality in sports, obstacles remain. Women continue to participate in sports less than men, and disparities, particularly in football, persist in terms of gender pay gaps and involvement. Studies in Cyprus and Italy reveal that gender-segregated classes and underrepresentation of women in sports governance reinforce gender biases from an early age. The HERSPORT project challenged these biases through a three-tier approach: addressing gender-biased attitudes, enhancing sports pedagogy to boost gender parity and life skills, and organizing mixed-gender football tournaments in early education to create experiential learning opportunities that promote gender equality.