The programme forms part of the Sharjah Women Sports' efforts to broaden opportunities for sports participation and strengthen the role of physical activity in girls’ daily lives.

Exploring sports beyond competition

The programme offered an experience different from specialised competitive training, allowing participants to move between a variety of sporting activities and gain practical insight into each sport and its fundamental skills. This gave each girl greater scope to discover her interests and abilities and build a positive first experience that could be developed in the future.

The programme was limited to a small number of participants to ensure a high-quality experience and direct supervision. This gave each participant sufficient time and space to take part actively, interact with coaches and learn the fundamentals of each sport, rather than simply observing or having limited involvement in large groups.

‘Intilaqa’ also gave the girls the opportunity to make use of the Sharjah Women Sports' sporting environment and facilities, combining learning, physical activity and enjoyment while focusing on values that extend beyond sporting skills, including commitment, patience, endurance, self-confidence and teamwork.

Al Yazia Al Suwaidi, Director of Women’s Sports at the Sharjah Women Sports', said that the ‘Intilaqa’ programme reflects the Sharjah Women’s Sports' commitment to expanding opportunities for girls to participate in sport and providing them with space to explore and experiment without requiring them to pursue professional sport or commit to a competitive path at an early age.

“We see sport as part of a lifestyle, which is why it is important to give girls the opportunity to try different activities in an environment that gives them the time and space to discover sports for themselves. The aim is not for every participant to become a competitive athlete, but for every girl to leave the programme with a more positive relationship with sport, a broader understanding of the options available to her and a desire to keep sport as part of her life,” she said.

She added that the Sharjah Women Sports' community role complements its athlete and team development programmes by providing programmes and facilities that offer girls and women diverse opportunities to participate in sport at different stages of life, making access to physical activity easier and more sustainable.

Maryam Kashwani, Community Sports Executive at the Sharjah Women Sports, explained that the programme was designed to give participants genuine practical experience rather than simply providing a theoretical introduction to different sports.

“It was important to us that participants did not leave simply knowing the name of a sport, but having actually tried it, learned some of its fundamentals and gained a better understanding of how it is played and what it requires. That is why we made sure the number of participants was appropriate to the nature of the experience, so every girl had enough time to train, interact and benefit,” she said.

She added: “During the programme, we noticed that the girls became more comfortable trying new sports and more confident about participating. Some joined without knowing much about certain sports and later began asking how they could continue practising them after the programme ended. For us, this is one of the most important indicators of the experience’s impact.”

From trying new sports to wanting to continue

Participants’ feedback reflected the impact of the programme. Fatima Al Muaini said: “What I liked most was being able to try the sports myself and learn their fundamentals up close. It was an enjoyable experience, and I discovered sports that I liked more than I expected and would like to continue practising.”

Muzna Al Hammadi said the experience gave her a broader understanding of what sporting activity requires. “I learned that sport is not only about skill; it also requires fitness, endurance and patience. As the training continued, I felt an improvement in my abilities and confidence, which encourages me to continue practising sport after the programme ends,” she said.

‘Intilaqa’ reflects the Sharjah Women’s Sports' efforts to broaden the impact of its sports ecosystem to include the wider community alongside its competitive pathway, using its facilities, expertise and programmes to create diverse and suitable opportunities for girls and women to participate in sport.

The Sharjah Women Sports' continues to develop its community initiatives to ensure that sport remains present at different stages of women’s lives, giving girls broader opportunities to explore, participate and continue their sporting journey within an integrated environment that combines access to sport, quality experiences and opportunities for development.