Seeking Participants for a Study on Muslim Women’s Experiences of Sport in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Coaches, Administrators, Programme Managers, and Sports Leaders

To date, no research has explored Muslim girls and women’s sporting and physical activity participation in Aotearoa. Recognizing this huge gap, we are conducting the first project in New Zealand that seeks to understand how Muslim girls and women access sport and physical recreation in New Zealand, and the challenges in doing so. To develop this knowledge, we recognize the importance of creating spaces for the voices and experiences of Muslim women themselves, as well as those involved in organizing sport/physical activities with Muslim female participants. Your knowledge is key! Please consider participating in this project if you meet the following criteria:

You can participate in this project if you are:

• 18 years or older
• Living in either Auckland, Wellington or Waikato
• Involved in organizing or running (e.g., coaches, administrators) sport or physical activity opportunities for/with any Muslim girls and/or women (e.g., do you have a Muslim girl on your sports team?)

If you do want to participate, what would be involved?

• Participate in a focus group (group interview) discussion with other sports leaders/administrators from your region
• Talk about your involvement in offering sporting and/or physical activity opportunities for local Muslim girls and/or women: what have you learned in the process? What do you feel we can be doing better in catering to the needs and interests of this group?
• The focus group will be approx. 1 hour long at a time/location that suits participants
• You don’t have to answer any question that you don’t want to, and can stop or leave the interview at any time.
• You would remain anonymous in any research resulting from this project and we do not

anticipate any risks for you participating in this study.

Why should you be involved?

• This is an important opportunity to share your experiences of being involved in providing sport and/or physical activity opportunities for Muslim girls and/or women. Findings will be shared with sports organizations across the country, and will therefore enhance understandings, inform policy, and hopefully lead to more supportive, inclusive sporting and active recreation opportunities for Muslim girls and women.

Who is doing this research? Who will do the interviews/focus groups?

• Professor Holly Thorpe and Nida Ahmad from the University of Waikato are conducting this project. Nida is a Muslim woman whose own PhD research focuses on Muslim women’s participation in sport and use of social media. Nida and/or Holly will conduct all interviews/focus groups.

If you’re interested in participating, or getting further information, please contact:

Nida Ahmad: na105@students.waikato.ac.nz or 0284051042 OR

Professor Holly Thorpe: holly.thorpe@waikato.ac.nz or 021311143

We do hope you will consider sharing your experiences, knowledge and insights in this New Zealand-first research.

This research is funded by internal funding from the University of Waikato. This research project has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee (Health) at the University of Waikato as HREC(Health)2019-20. Any questions or concerns about the ethical conduct of this research may be sent to the Secretary of the Committee, email humanethics@waikato.ac.nz, postal address, Human Research Ethics Committee (Health), University of Waikato, Te Whare Wananga o Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton 3240.