There are all sorts of studies out there about diversity in all its spheres which show the importance of positive role models and having something to aspire to. Sport is no different.

That's why the lack of coverage of women's sport in the media is potentially so damaging, and why negative comments made about the few high-profile sportswomen are also damaging.

Cue Daley Thompson. Back in August at the World Athletics Championships Thompson criticised heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson for "throwing like a girl". Luckily he was surrounded by women in the studio and presenter Gabby Logan and former marathon runner Paula Radcliffe were quick to retaliate.

Now it seems the phrase is being picked up in an effort to turn it into a positive message. Last week Women's Sport Net, a not-for-profit group trying to promote women in sport, ran a conference tagged "#LIKEaGIRL"with speakers including Olympic rower Sarah Winckless. From the agenda and Twitter it looks as though the conference discussed issues such as the barriers to participation and heard about a number of case studies.

In a follow-up, Winckless appeared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday (listen here) . In less than three minutes Winckless managed to cover most of the major issues about barriers to sport, which is pretty impressive.

• Physical literacy

I confess I hadn't really heard of physical literacy before now, but as Winckless explained, it's about getting used to moving your body. I guess it's something that has been lost through the depressingly indoor lifestyle so many kids lead these days. In fact, Winckless suggested that we should move away from a focus on sport in favour of a focus on simple activity. The theory would seem to be that if you're used to running around and throwing your body into stuff, you'll be more likely to take up sport later. And, as she says, it's as applicable to boys as girls.

• Language and perception

Addressing Thompson's "throwing like a girl" comment, Winckless revealed that she convinced herself that she was "throwing like a girl" when she used to compete in the discus. The self-perpetuating belief that you can't do something because you do it "like a girl" is immensely damaging. Thinking back it's something I've been exposed to a little myself or been guilty of myself; as a rower coaches have often said "don't row like a girl". What they mean is that you don't go fast by just being technically neat, you also have to put some power down. That's true, but there must be better language to express it. As Winckless said on Today, "we just need to throw the ball".

• Role models

I know I'll come back to this in another blog, but to my mind role models are vital. Winckless seems to agree, and she was scathing about the lack of coverage of women's coverage in the media. "I'm amazed that no female sport happens, because it's not reported on," she said. "We need positive female role models and we need male sports commentators to support that."

Winckless herself is of course an amazing role model for those of us in rowing; she performed brilliantly when she was racing and since retirement has been prominent in supporting the efforts of those of us who can't hope to emulate her achievements. She's an umpire, and umpired the first women's Boat Race on the Tideway this year. You see her and other retired British rowers on the bank or in umpire's boats or organising the big women's races or presenting prizes at those races.

But I'm a rowing geek and I make a point of following my sport and the successes of current athletes like the undefeated women's pair of Helen Glover and Heather Stanning. At the moment we have to look for our role models, they're not handed to us on giant billboards in the way that football-mad boys are handed David Beckham.

I was about to disagree with Winckless, who said she thought things were improving, but after watching Britain's men triumph in the Davis Cup (BBC One) I just discovered that BBC Two is actually screening a women's football match (the Euro 2017 qualifier between England and Bosnia & Herzegovina) live. So maybe she's right. Maybe there is a bit of improvement and female sporting role models are getting a bit more prominent.

But it's still not fast enough.