Volleyball Ireland has announced a Volleyball-first partnership with FabLittleBag, which believes that periods should not be a barrier to sports participation.
FabLittleBag provides sustainably sourced disposal bags for tampons and pads, making managing periods easier, especially if the bins are unpleasant or simply not there. Ensuring easy, responsible disposal is key to ensuring that women and girls don’t ‘hold on,’ which often leads to leakage, a dread of many athletes.
This August, Ireland will host the u20 Women’s European Championship Finals, the world’s first Period Supportive Volleyball event.
Each participating team will receive a specially designed FabLittleBag stocked full of period products, so instead of worrying about being “caught short,” athletes can focus purely on their on-court performance.
Supported by the Sport Ireland Campus, each changing room will be stocked with free products, and players and coaches will receive a range of education workshops on menstrual cycle performance.
It is a great idea to make a practical contribution to ensuring that sport is seen as a positive rather than a nervous subject for women and girls.
The tournament still has a small number of partner spots available, and it would be great to add support from within the Sport for Business community.
Partnering with Volleyball Ireland.
“I love this idea and this partnership,” said Emily Frazell, Ireland Senior Women’s Captain.
“I love the progressive conversation about what is such a normal and natural occurrence. I suppose some younger players or coaches may feel a little more uncomfortable having this conversation, but that’s why it’s so important and why it needs to happen.”
“I really encourage all players and coaches to get educated – a little more understanding on something so basic can have a huge impact on performance.”
Taboo
Research from Sport England shows that period anxiety contributes significantly to the exodus of teenage girls in sports, with 64% leaving sports before the age of 17 years. The lack of suitable facilities and the taboo surrounding period talk further exacerbates the issue.
The European Championships will be one of the most watched Women’s sports events held in Ireland this year, with over 1 million viewers expected online.
Powerhouses of the sport, such as Poland, Italy, and Serbia, will be heading to the Sport Ireland Campus from August 5th to 13th.
“We are extremely happy that Volleyball Ireland stepped up to host this indeed historic Championship,” said European Volleyball President Aleksander Boricic.
“Our sport truly is a sport for all, and we highly appreciate the initiative undertaken by Volleyball Ireland to support young female players so that they can focus solely on their performance as they compete at the highest level in the upcoming U20 continental championship.”
“With their initiative, Volleyball Ireland is taking concrete action to make sure that these youngsters feel supported, empowered and as stress-free as possible as they aim high while representing their National Team at this historic Championship. What is even more impressive is that this action will be further expanded even beyond the Championship to involve clubs, raise further awareness and educate players and coaches alike.”
“Representing Ireland is such an honour and privilege,” said Laura Connolly, Ireland’s u20 captain.
Focus
“In August, we will be going up against some of the best players in the world – being able to focus solely on performance will make a huge difference to our team. I’m proud that Volleyball Ireland is taking this first step for the sport, and I’m sure the girls from the other competing nations will be incredibly appreciative of this initiative.”
“Ireland might not always be able to lead Volleyball on the court, but I think this is a huge step forward off the court.,” added Volleyball Ireland President Clodagh NicAnna.
“I am so proud we are the first to do this and to lead the world. I hope other Volleyball events and sports follow our lead, making their major international events period supportive.”
“We want to start the conversation on this subject within Volleyball, to really reduce the stigma and taboo around it,” concluded Gary Stewart, CEO of Volleyball Ireland.
“Alongside this promotion, we’ll be running workshops for players, coaches, and parents on menstrual cycle performance. It’s all about education. We hope all Volleyball clubs will become Period Supportive ahead of the new season. This is such a simple idea, and in hindsight, should be part of hosting any event. I expect this is the start of the new normal.”
Tickets for the U20 Women’s European Championships are on sale now at VolleyballIreland.com.
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