“I have this alternate life where I see myself as an athlete” – Zoya Zia on why representation and intersectionality matter in child-first coaching

Play Their Way

13-11-2023 • 28 mins

Dive into a conversation on inclusivity and intersectionality in children’s sport with Zoya Zia and host Laura-Jane Jones.

Zoya discusses how to listen to young people’s voices and act on their wishes in meaningful ways, how to start when it comes to understanding and embedding children’s rights in coaching, and the long-term impact of positive (and negative) early experiences in sport and physical exercise – including her personal story.

Zoya is the Senior Impact and Evaluation Officer at Chance to Shine, one of the members of the Children’s Coaching Collaborative (17 organisations which drive the Play Their Way movement). Originally from Pakistan and Texas, Zoya has found her place in between. She has an MSc Human Rights and Politics from the London School of Economics, and is interested in the relationship between sport and children's rights worldwide.

If you want to #PlayTheirWay for every child, this episode offers a glimpse into a more inclusive, hopeful future for children’s coaching.

Join the #PlayTheirWay movement ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠.

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