Women’s sport in Poland is becoming increasingly visible in both the media and public awareness. The conversation is no longer limited to results but extends to working conditions and whether professional sport truly allows athletes to plan their lives in the long term. Polish sportswomen win medals and inspire new generations. Footballers, track and field athletes, judokas and kayakers are building the popularity of disciplines that until recently remained on the margins of attention. Yet behind these successes there are still real challenges performance pressure, limited funding and a lack of solutions adapted to natural stages of an athlete’s life such as motherhood.
Foundations of development
A clear shift can be seen in the approach of sports institutions. The development of women’s sport is moving away from reliance solely on individual talent toward a system based on training structures and accessibility.
An example is the grant programme Women in the Game run by the Polish Football Association. Funding is directed primarily to local clubs and the training of girls. It covers training sessions, tournaments, the creation of new teams, education of female coaches and cooperation with schools. The key point is that the support targets the level at which most athletes begin their careers.
At the same time public programmes supporting grassroots sport operate alongside it, such as the Club Programme and infrastructure projects at schools and local facilities. Their importance for women’s sport is fundamental because they increase accessibility and lower the entry barrier for girls.
Access first, professionalisation later is a strategy that is now being implemented consistently.
Motherhood and an athletic career
For years the scholarship system was based mainly on current competitive activity. In practice this meant that a break caused by pregnancy could lead to the loss of the athlete’s main source of income. Athletes indicated that it effectively forced them to return to competition prematurely or postpone life decisions.
New legislative changes are beginning to correct this. Proposed regulations extend the period of receiving a scholarship after childbirth to twelve months and significantly increase its amount. This brings the situation of sportswomen closer to standards known from labour law.
It is not only a matter of benefits but also a cultural signal motherhood is no longer treated as a break in a career but as its natural stage.
Direction for the future
Athletes increasingly speak out and influence the decisions of federations and public institutions. Women’s sport is now developing simultaneously on two levels performance and structural.
The future depends less on individual successes and more on stable operating conditions. Flexible financial support, social protection and professional governance allow athletes to plan a career without choosing between sport and private life.
Conclusion
Our law firm specialises in sports law while also supporting the development of sport at various levels with particular attention to women’s sport. We believe that sound legal frameworks help athletes plan their careers safely. Feel free to contact us.
Sources:
- Polski Komitet Olimpijski. (2025). Mamy olimpijki – regulamin programu PKOl i zondacrypto. https://olimpijski.pl/mamy-olimpijki-regulamin-programu-pkol-i-zondacrypto/
- Mazowiecki Związek Piłki Nożnej. (2025). Rusza II edycja programu grantowego „Kobiety w grze”. https://www.mzpn.pl/rusza-ii-edycja-programu-grantowego-kobiety-w-grze/
- Polityka Zdrowotna. (2024). Więcej pieniędzy i zmiany w stypendiach sportowych dla zawodniczek-mam. https://politykazdrowotna.com/artykul/wiecej-pieniedzy-i-n2206152
- Elle Polska. (2024). Zawodniczki muszą ukrywać ciążę, żeby nie stracić stypendium – Katarzyna Zillmann o sytuacji kobiet w polskim sporcie. https://www.elle.pl/wideo/zawodniczki-musza-ukrywac-ciaze-zeby-nie-stracic-stypendium-katarzyna-zillmann-o-trudnej-sytuacji-kobiet-w-polskim-sporcie/
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