On the Move is a national initiative designed to increase
the opportunities for inactive girls and young women
(ages 9-18) to participate and lead in sport and physical
activity. It does this in two ways:
On the Move is an innovative programming concept to help practitioners
increase girls’ and women’s physical activity
through the creation of fun-filled, supportive, female-only,
recreational sport and physical activity programs. Based
on the experiences of On the Move programs across Canada, the user-friendly
On the Move Handbook, the initiative’s foundation document,
discusses the issues and barriers that girls and women face
in their participation, and provides information about program
design and implementation, leadership, promotion, and building
community support.
On the Move is also a national network of practitioners involved
in female-only programming, and individuals and organizations
concerned with the health and well being of girls and women.
The network is a resource for information about the importance
of increasing girls’ and women’s participation,
sharing research, events and program successes and challenges.
On the Move is based on the belief that there is a sector of the
population missing out on recreational opportunities due to
various overt and covert barriers. Many studies have shown
that girls and young women understand the importance of physical
activity to their health and want to increase their participation
(cf. Kippen, 1999; Smale & Shaw, 1993). That girls’
and young women’s participation remains low suggests
that social and systemic barriers (e.g. the perpetuation of
stereotypes surrounding female participation in sport, prioritization
of other pursuits, an overemphasis on competition, limited
choices and opportunities, lack of opportunities to build
basic skills) are affecting their involvement (Fenton, Frisby
& Luke, 1999; Fenton, Kopelow, Vivani & Millar, 2000;
Humbert, 1995).
The underlying premise of On the Move is to work towards
attaining gender equity in sport and physical activity.
Gender equity means providing girls and young women
with access to a full range of opportunities and choices
that meet their needs and enable them to achieve the
social, psychological and physical benefits possible
through sport and physical activity. Therefore, On the
Move works at the organizational and behavioural levels
to address barriers and create positive environments
where girls and young women can make positive choices
and build a foundation for active living.
Sydney Millar
National Program Director Canadian Association for the Advancement of
Women and Sport and Physical Activity
N202-801 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa ON K1N 6N5
Tel: 613 - 562 - 5667
Fax: 613 - 562 - 5668
CAAWS
appreciates the financial support of the Public
Health Agency of Canada and Canadian Heritage,
Sport Canada
