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Canadian startup SkillShark partners with Egypt’s Empower Football Academy to support women in sport 🇨🇦🙋♀️⚽️
Correct and timely feedback is essential for any athlete, especially for ‘non-traditional’ sports groups such as women. With better feedback to athletes, not only have a better chance to develop, but also a higher likelihood that an athlete will return to play the sport the following year. 70% of kids quit sports by age 13 and one of top reasons why kids quit is their own perceptions of their lack of competence at the sport. Research shows that participating in youth sports can lead to immediate and long-term benefits for youth, their families, and communities. This is especially important for groups such as girls, inner-city youth, under-privileged groups, and youth in under-resourced geographies.
Saskatoon based Skillshark’s Athlete Evaluation Software provides an efficient way to provide feedback to athletes and automatically determining what developmental material each athlete needs so they know exactly where to focus.
Skillshark is currently being used by Empower Women’s Football Academy to improve athlete development for young female soccer players in Egypt. “The software was super easy to learn,” said Farida Salem, Founder of Empower Football Academy. “I was able to explain to the team how to use it in just under 20 minutes. Everything about SkillShark is super-efficient and useful. This program is of such great use for our industry. We needed something like this a long time ago.”
Empower Football Academy is about more than just soccer. It’s about challenging perceptions and giving young women a place to grow, learn, and thrive in sports - a vital mission in a region where gender equality in sports is still progressing.
“We are honored to partner with such an inspiring role model as Farida and Empower Football Academy. Her mission to empower young women and set a powerful example of leadership is truly admirable. SkillShark is proud to support her in breaking barriers for girls in sports.” Neil Anderson, Founder of SkillShark.
About Empower Football Academy
Founded by Egyptian footballer Farida Salem, Empower Football Academy is dedicated to providing girls in Egypt with opportunities to excel in soccer. Since its launch in 2019, the academy has focused on not only developing athletic skills but also building confidence in young athletes and breaking down societal barriers. By offering training programs and mentorship, Empower Football Academy encourages young women to challenge stereotypes and pursue their dreams in sports and beyond.
About SkillShark
SkillShark is a leading player evaluation platform that has transformed the once tedious, manual process of player assessments into a streamlined, efficient digital solution. Used by youth sports organizations, academies, SkillShark’s app simplifies tryouts, camps, and showcases, helping coaches draft winning teams and providing valuable feedback to promising young athletes.
About Scale Up Canada
Scale Up Canada is a not-for-profit public-private partnership dedicated to connecting Canadian innovators with industry experts and strategic investors. Our mission is to drive the global commercialization of Canadian-made innovations, ensure investor readiness for high-potential startups, and build capacity for community organizations working with Canadian founders.