More room for girls in the game

Period products, soccer registration, and mentorship are all part of Columbus's effort to make sport more welcoming.

Illustrative soccer-field photograph: Erik Mclean / Pexels. Not a Columbus venue or IgniteHER program. Image source.

A Brighter World · Dublin & Central Ohio edition · October 22, 2026

Belonging in a stadium begins before the first whistle. In September, the City of Columbus described a group of changes meant to make sports more accessible to girls and women across central Ohio. Its report says a Columbus company, Aunt Flow, has installed 165 dispensers offering free period products across major local sports venues.

Several ways to widen access

That practical provision sits alongside two programs under the city's IgniteHER initiative. Grow Her Game is designed to cover soccer registration fees for up to 400 income-eligible girls ages 4 to 7 in a fall league at three Columbus recreation centers. IgniteHER Next Mentorship pairs female college athletes with former collegiate athletes to build relationships and open paths to professional and community connections.

Announcements and outcomes

These are different kinds of access: a basic need met at a venue, the cost of joining a team reduced, and an experienced person to talk with about what comes next. The city has announced the programs; the source does not report how many girls ultimately enrolled or what outcomes the mentorship produced. Those results deserve a later follow-up.

A practical invitation to belong

For now, the heartening idea is that a city can make participation easier through many small, concrete decisions. Read the city's full announcement for program details and partners.

Source

City of Columbus, September 29, 2026

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