Girls soccer in Brazil, changing gender norms

In order to better understand the impact and motivation for girls to play futsal, we spoke with parents of our participants. Their reflections reveal a consistent pattern: increased motivation, stronger engagement with school, and growing confidence.

For Flavia, the change is clear. She explains that her daughter had always loved football and was eager to take part in an activity. Since joining futsal, she has become noticeably happier and more enthusiastic. “She comes home excited, talking about everything she did,” Flavia shares. “And I can see it’s also reflected at school—she’s even more motivated and interested in her studies.” Nathalie highlights a similar transformation. Already passionate about sport, her daughter has gained even more focus and energy through futsal. “She’s more attentive, more focused, and full of energy,” she says. “It also strengthens her confidence and discipline. It’s wonderful to see how something she enjoys brings so many positive benefits.” For Yrens, the impact goes beyond routine—it has reshaped how her daughter relates to school and to others. “She counts down the days until futsal,” she explains. “She’s more energetic and has become more outgoing. Before, she was quite shy.” Thauanne also observed important changes, particularly in motivation and commitment. “She is much more willing to go to school, especially on futsal days,” she notes. “It improves her coordination, discipline, and helps her build confidence and teamwork skills.”

For many families, practicality also plays a key role. Elisangela points out that having sessions at the same location as school makes participation easier, while still delivering strong benefits: “She is more active and more focused on her tasks,” she says. Douglas Brum emphasises the broader life lessons that sport brings: “It teaches teamwork and helps her understand differences between people, both on and off the pitch.” Thaiane highlights emotional changes: “She is happier, more engaged, and doesn’t want to miss classes. It has positive effects on both her mind and body.” Carol reflects on how futsal complements other activities while strengthening key life skills: “She is more active, confident and disciplined. It has improved her focus, responsibility and even how she relates to rules and commitments,” she explains. “It’s not just physical development—it’s emotional and social growth too.” Simone reinforces the role of sport in building confidence and healthy routines: “She is more active and engaged. Sport helps avoid a sedentary lifestyle and supports her development in a very positive way.” Douglas Lopes points to another important outcome—reducing screen time while increasing enthusiasm: “She is more energetic and excited, especially about school and futsal days,” he says. Finally, Maria Elizete shares a vivid image of what futsal now represents in her daughter’s life: “She gets so excited—she keeps reminding me not to forget her boots because it’s futsal day,” she says. “You can really see how much she enjoys it.” She also highlights improvements in her daughter’s wellbeing, including breathing and overall energy levels.

Across all the families, a shared message emerges: futsal is not only contributing to physical health, but also strengthening discipline, confidence, social skills and engagement with education. Whether through increased enthusiasm for school, improved focus, or greater self-esteem, the impact is tangible. For these girls, stepping onto the court is also a step towards broader personal development—one that extends far beyond the game itself.

As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguarding and child development, girls aged 9 to 14 who participate in our futsal classes in local state schools are also receiving targeted Protection and Self-Knowledge Workshops. These sessions provide a safe, age-appropriate space for girls to learn about their bodies, strengthen their confidence, and develop essential knowledge for adolescence.

To understand the purpose and impact of these workshops, we spoke with Andressa Silva, ACER Brasil’s Safeguarding Manager and the facilitator responsible for leading the activities. “The workshops aim to broaden the girls’ awareness and understanding of their bodies during this stage of growth — this transition from childhood to adolescence. We work on body care and introduce the idea of a conscious family to show what this body is and how to take care of hygiene. We also address menstruation, gradually structuring the workshops to build awareness and strengthen the girls’ knowledge of their own bodies.”

These sessions help the girls navigate an important developmental phase with clarity, dignity, and confidence.

Andressa highlights that the girls express a strong need to talk openly: “The girls need to speak about family dynamics — who looks after them, who offers affection — and many times they mention people who are not necessarily trustworthy. Issues arise that reflect the emotional and structural needs within families.” In this way, the workshops become a supportive and protective environment, offering attentive listening, guidance, and emotional safety. Andressa continues sharing that amongst the girls, there is a lack of accessible information about bodily changes: “What stands out most is the lack of knowledge about the growth of pubic hair, breast development, period cramps. These are topics many families are embarrassed or afraid to discuss. We also explain how to use a sanitary pad and how to recognise signs that the first period is approaching.” So for many of the girls, this is the first time they receive clear, practical information about their bodies and how they function; this is because “Some girls, especially those aged 13 and 14 who trained at Fabiola, had very basic content at school, but nothing with the depth we cover. Some schools mention the topic lightly; others don’t address it at all. So it isn’t present everywhere.” The workshops therefore fill a crucial gap, ensuring children receive reliable, age-appropriate, and sensitive guidance — something essential for their healthy development and protection. In addition, at the end of the workshop, each girl receives a bag filled with personal hygiene products so that they can put into practice at home all that they have learned.

The Protection and Self-Knowledge Workshops complement ACER Brasil’s sports activities by supporting girls holistically — physically, emotionally, and socially. By integrating safeguarding practices into the futsal programme, ACER strengthens its mission to create safe, empowering environments for all children and adolescents.