Friendships In Sport.

Episode: #014.

Frances & Laura.

Your friendly hosts & Almost Pro founders.

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How do friendships shape the way we experience and stay connected to sport?

From locker room laughs to solo training sessions, friendship is often the quiet force that keeps athletes in the game.

In this host episode, Laura (individual sports: tennis/athletics) and Frances (team sports: football) dive into the power of connection in sport - how it can drive performance, ease loneliness, and even determine how long we stay in the game.

From the family-like bonds of team environments to the independence (and isolation) of individual sports, this episode explores what friendship in sport really looks like, why these friendships are so unique, and how those relationships not only shape who we become but how we connect with people long after the final whistle.

Together, they challenge the long-held idea that “girls only play for the social,” asking whether that belief reflects genuine difference - or the historic lack of opportunity and pathways in women’s sport. The result is an honest conversation about belonging, identity, and the connections that make sport more than just a game. In this episode we cover:

• Team vs individual - belonging, rivalry, and connection

• Coaches, training partners, and who’s really in your corner

• Rethinking the “girls play for the social” narrative

• Life after sport

• staying connected beyond the game

• Why both team and individual experiences build whole-of-life skills

Stream Episode. 38:59mins.