Three Year Anniversary Update #1
It’s October 2025 and here’s our third-year update to Play On based on our Questionnaire results. We’re always interested in hearing from you so please fill it in.
So, here are some of the results from our Play On questionnaire
Average age the girls start their periods - 12
Most girls did not feel prepared for their periods.
“I was prepared but I was sad to get it.”
On average, it took girls’ periods 15 months to settle down with extremes of seven years and straightaway.
What makes you feel comfortable in a club when it comes to period wear?
“free period products, no stigma”
“separate women’s changing rooms”
“being able to go to the toilet when needed”
“They have period bins in the toilets, nice clean toilets, the people are welcoming, the facilities like driving ranges are amazing
”
What are the period facilities like at your club?
Most places had a dedicated ladies toilet (rather than one that men used too) and a bin for sanitary wear. But there were extreme responses. Shame about the machines but we loved this fix.
“We’re in a shared arena there are sanitary bins but the machines don’t work. We have a dignity box in the equipment cupboard.”
But are working with the club of this respondent: “I don't think there are any period facilities.”
How do you feel when free products are available?
Some of the words used in response include
happier
more secure
great
less anxious
supported and this was our favourite response as it encapsulates it perfectly:
“Feel more secure even if you don’t need it. Knowing it’s there is reassuring (like an insurance policy - you hope to not need it but it’s there in an emergency).”
Average number of period products used a month - 17
Best and worst bits of having your period?
Cramps, headaches, leaking, mess, back pain…
“Worst is the physical pain and fear of starting cycle in public / at training where I have to wear a white uniform. No best bit!
”
“I hate that when you haven’t kept up with your period tracker and so don’t remember if you’re starting soon and so stain your pants with blood
Also when you don’t have period products on hand and there is nowhere around where you can get one.”
“Knowing my body is functioning well is a comfort, the occasional messiness and getting caught short in the wrong place can be embarrassing”
Next time we’ll share what our respondents think about their coaches’ comfort with periods, how easily they can be approached and what they would like to experience instead.
For more information on Play On, check out our most recent blog post.