Champion inline skater on girls being put off sport by pe lessons

“Visiting schools as an Athlete Mentor I have been pleasantly surprised by the range of school sports on offer today with many schools already providing less traditional options such as dance, yoga and dodgeball.  There will always be a place for traditional games in schools but equally sports such as inline skating can teach students just as valuable lessons about competition, fairness and attainment.

“When I was young I tried lots of sports before I found mine; I wasn’t very good at most and I didn’t enjoy them, but then I discovered I had natural talent for skating and it has made me the person I am today.  There is a sport out there for everyone and I would urge girls in particular not to give up on being active as there are so many exciting opportunities out there.

“This academic year more schools than ever before have signed up for Sky Sports Living for Sports projects.  This clearly demonstrates that PE teachers recognise the need to engage students of both sexes in a wider variety of sporting opportunities alongside the importance of ensuring they have appropriate role models.  Every young person needs someone to look up to and be inspired by and we now have 48 Athlete Mentors working hard in schools across the UK to get pupils striving for success in all areas of their lives.

“There will always be students both male and female who are shy, indifferent or even averse to participating in sport but I firmly believe that by helping each discover a sport where they can have fun and enjoy developing new skills, we can make engender lifelong positive attitudes towards sport.”

Jenna Downing, Athlete Mentor for Sky Sports Sky Sports Living for Sport, a free initiative delivered in partnership with the Youth Sport Trust.