Dove and Nike have developed an online coaching program, Body Confident Sport, to build body confidence in girls globally.

Here’s what we know from new research conducted by Nike and Dove: One, teenage girls across the world are dropping out of sports at twice the rate of boys, 45 percent. Two, low body confidence was their main concern, as 48 percent of the girls studied said they were told they didn’t have the right body for sports. However, we also know that girls who engage in physical activity through adolescence are more likely to have body confidence throughout their lives. With these findings in mind, Dove and Nike partnered with the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR), the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport, and other experts to develop Body Confident Sport, a first-of-its-kind set of coaching tools that has been scientifically-proven, according to a release, to build body confidence in girls ages 11 to 17.

“In sports, girls often face a tremendous amount of pressure, not just around performance and abilities, but also because of unrealistic expectations around their appearances,” commented tennis champion and entrepreneur Venus Williams in a release. “I am excited to be working with Dove on this initiative to help nurture girls’ self-belief and confidence, foster a positive environment, and shift the conversation from appearance to capability. Our shared goal is to make sports a more inclusive, welcoming space for girls everywhere.”

While Dove has been providing self-esteem and body confidence education globally since 2004 and Nike continues its commitment to supporting girls and female athletes, their efforts will be aided by changing the messaging girls receive in sports. Coaches are the first place to look because they are often role models and can champion a positive sporting environment for all players. The research found that 61 percent of girls would be interested in hearing from coaches about body confidence education. In addition, “83 (percent) of girls in the US say their coach was the reason they felt more confident.”

According to Nike and Dove, the Body Confident Sport online coaching tool has been proven to reduce self-objectification and increase body-esteem among 11- to 17-year-old girls. It will be available to coaches worldwide through a network of organizations in schools and sports clubs. The aim is to reach more than one million young people around the world.

“We know that sports offer girls enormous benefits,” said Gold Medal Olympic Gymnast Laurie Hernandez in a release. “Coaches and athletes alike have a collective responsibility to create inclusive spaces and positive experiences that give all girls an opportunity to discover the power of sports. Sports fuels confidence, which in turn enables girls to enjoy a lifetime of moving and playing the sports they love. This is why I’m so proud to team up with Nike to support Body Confident Sport.”