- Hold leagues designed exclusively for women players
- Increase women’s participation in weekly leagues or monthly events
- Involve women’s service organizations
- Increase women’s participation at tournaments
- Host women’s clinics
- Hold special events to attract women players
- Provide Feedback
Increase Women’s Participation in Weekly Leagues or Monthly Events
If there is not enough interest or an organizer willing to run a separate women’s league in your area, invite women to participate in already established weekly or monthly league events. This will allow women players the opportunity to gain skills.
Handicap League Play.
This is a fun way to expose women players to disc golf. All players have a chance to win playing in a handicap league. New players, including women have the best chances at winning in a handicap league. If there is a handicap league in your area, encourage every woman you know to try it. If you are interested in starting a handicap league in your area, Disc Golf United can provide the information and resources you need.
Established League Play.
Offer a women’s division in conjunction with an already organized league (preferably NOT a doubles league). The women players will participate just like all the other players, but within their own division and grouped with other women players. Offer to help the current league director add these divisions. Help collect fees, group players and calculate payouts. Offer to find additional sponsorship, if necessary. If the only league in your area is a random draw doubles league you may be able to accommodate women players. If there are at least four women players present, have the women players compete against each other. Otherwise, women players must compete like all other players. When pairing women with male players there is a risk that a new woman player could be paired with a player that does not have a desire to play with a new player or even a woman player. This can be very discouraging for women players and is the main reason why this format is not recommended for attracting women players. Before hosting any event, make sure to follow all park regulations and obtain any required permits.Suggestions to Increase Women’s Participation.
Offer women’s division(s).
Women may be more likely to play league if they know that they will not be competing against the men.Group Women players together.
Arrange for at least one experienced woman player to accompany each group of newer women players. If this is not possible, have an understanding male player accompany the group.Lower league fees.
Charge a lower fee or no fee at all. It may be necessary to find sponsorship to provide some type of payout or awards to the women players.Award participation prizes.
Offer every new women player a new disc on her first league session. This will allow women players to receive something for taking the time to try disc golf and league play. Consider offering special CTP’s or other prizes just for the women’s division(s).Provide appropriate equipment.
Ensure that women players have the opportunity to play with discs that match their skill level. Offer lightweight, beginner-friendly discs like the Leopard, Valkyrie, Archangel, Shark or Aviar. You may also give away used discs or have “loaner” discs available for the new women players. By providing suitable discs for new women players, you increase the chance they will have a more enjoyable experience.
Publicize women’s play.
Announce the availability of women’s divisions on all league flyers, course bulletin boards and league/club websites. Encourage current league players to bring the women in their life to league. Post league information on the dedicated area of Women’s Forum on the PDGA discussion board.Relax scoring requirements.
Allow new women players to play without keeping score or having players keep score, but not have to turn in scorecards. Women would simply be playing for experience and/or participation prizes.Present Women’s Clinics.
Consider holding a brief women’s only clinic before or after each league session. This will help women learn the basics of the game. Contact us for more information about hosting a women’s clinic.
