Half of all girls who play sports at a young age quit by high school. At a crucial time for confidence and self-image, they walk away from the playing field. Why?
Title IX was passed in 1972, over 50 years ago, which was an important piece of legislation paving the way for equal opportunities for girls to play sports in educational institutions that receive federal funding. Since 1972, there has been a steady increase in girls participating in sports. In fact, 1 out of every 3 girls aged 6-12 play sports. (1) Sports are a wonderful and fun way to encourage teamwork and develop a healthy self-image, confidence, and resilience. There have even been studies that show a decrease in lifetime breast cancer risk for teens and young adults who play sports. (2)
Unfortunately, there is a drastic decrease in participation once girls hit puberty. One in every two girls who play between 6 – 12 years of age will drop out during adolescence at a time when self-image, confidence, and resilience are arguably most important. Many studies and organizations have attempted to determine the cause of this drop, and a few factors have emerged as likely contributors. One issue is availability. Girls face a staggering 1.3 million fewer sports slots than boys in high school in this county. There are 1.3 million fewer opportunities for girls to play sports in high school than boys in this country. Another big factor is image and mentoring. Males make up 75% of the coaches for youth sports, leaving girls with fewer relatable mentors. From disparaging comments to media dominance and social discussion of male sports, girls also receive a constant message that they are not treated in the same manner as their male counterparts. Many girls hear disparaging comments at very young ages about their ability to play because they are female. Male sports dominate television programming and social discussion.
So, what can we do to help these girls stay in sports?
- Cheer for every high school girls’ game you can.
- Support organizations bridging the opportunity gap.
- Consider becoming a coach yourself. The girls who grow up to be women who coach and excel on a professional level are the little girls today who are hearing what we say to them and watching who coaches them.
By engaging the girls, we send a powerful message: ‘’Stay in the game!’ We can all collectively be a little more supportive and conscious of how we speak and approach girls in sports. That doesn’t just mean the conversations that we have with girls but also the conversations we have with boys and adults.
Imagine a future where girls don’t just play but dominate every sport. That starts with us right now. We can tune into women’s sporting events on TV and watch local high school and college girls compete. We can also get involved with organizations that support girls with many of the logistics involved with sports, such as space, transportation, and equipment. And we can become that coach who motivates and inspires women athletes. The future of women’s sports depends on our active engagement.
Sources:
- www.womenssportfoundation.org
- www.cancer.gov
Photo by Mica Asato: https://www.pexels.com/photo/four-women-embracing-each-other-while-smiling-1198174/
About the Author:
Michaela Shoberg graduated from the master’s program in Exercise Physiology at San Francisco State University. She graduated suma cum laude and received the Distinguished Academic Achievement award for her thesis on cycling economy. While at San Francisco State University, she taught undergraduate physical activity courses, including aerobics and strength training, and assisted with undergraduate research projects. Michaela is classically trained in ballet and other dance forms and has spent many years as a professional dancer.