Rising Ballers changing the game as the first female YouTube football team

Rising Ballers are a London football club using YouTube as a platform to engage people with youth football and with women’s football. The progress of the women’s team has been documented and shared through a series of episodes called “She’s a Baller”; showcasing the players, the way that they train and even their first match. Gaining up to 20,000 views on their videos, the women’s team seem to be finding a great way to capitalise on the growing interest in women’s football since this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Rising Ballers draws attention to the pool of young talent that exists and shows that there are a huge amount of capable, young female footballers who want to play and progress in the sport. While television allows football fans to engage with the Meghan Rapinoes of this world; Rising Ballers uses social media with the aim of promoting local talent and showcasing grassroots women’s football. On Instagram, She’s a Baller has gained over 15.2k followers across the year, showing that social media is the best way to promote women’s football that is being played at all levels and to bring together an audience in support of it.

The only problem that can arise from using YouTube and other platforms to raise awareness of these clubs is that young women are then able to come under scrutiny

Olivia, a Rising Ballers player told the BBC, “all of our games are videoed and shown on YouTube, which means other people see what we’re about. Other teams don’t really get that – it’s kind of like you have to be in the right place at the right time to be seen. But at every moment in Rising Ballers, eyes are always on you, so you have an opportunity at any moment, and that’s what the difference is”. There have been efforts by the BBC, BT Sport and other broadcasters to start covering more women’s matches, such as the FA Women’s Super Cup games. Undoubtedly, the display of the work being done by youth clubs is a great compliment to this.

The only problem that can arise from using YouTube and other platforms to raise awareness of these clubs is that young women are then able to come under scrutiny, as was done during the Women’s World Cup. Trolling on social media is a major issue facing the women’s game and, with the breadth of freedom on social media, online abuse may not just remain limited to those at the very top of the game. The women’s game tends to be criticised for not being as fast-paced as the men’s game, and the sexist idea that women cannot play football still manages to prop up through abusive tweets.

More awareness could even eventually lead to the attempt to open up more football academies for young women

However, by using YouTube to show the way in which women’s football is developing from the bottom up, it is likely that such exposure will lead to greater support of the game and less abuse in the future. Afghanistan’s women’s national team last year made accounts of sexual and physical abuse suffered at the president of Afghanistan’s football federation. The growing coverage and conversation around the women’s game allows such matters to come to light and be discussed. There is now a campaign called #FearlessFootball which aims to end abuse, harassment and exploitation in women’s football.

Rising Ballers are challenging the way in which women’s football is perceived. Young women are now being taught that becoming a professional footballer can be a reality for them – a legitimate career aspiration. More awareness could even eventually lead to the attempt to open up more football academies for young women. Many of the comments under the “She’s a Baller” videos are full of support; one comments said, “AMAZING, I see some BALLERRRRSSSSSSSSSS. I’m so happy that you are bringing this to RB. Levels and respect”. There were many more like this, declaring respect to and hope for the team. Without a doubt, social media will only help this team of young women to gain more and more support for themselves and for the women’s game generally.