The benefits of sports for youth are well-known. Sports teach boys and girls commitment, respect for others, relaxation, concentration under stress, set and achieve goals, accept responsibility and failure, and be gracious winners.
The recent findings of a Girls & Sports survey are clear: Girls who play sports perform better at school, are more confident, and lead a healthier lifestyle. Sadly, many girls don't get the chance to participate in sports due to various financial and cultural reasons. Twice as many girls will drop out of sports than boys by the time they reach the age of 14, leaving behind athleticism's benefits at a young age.
What challenges do young female athletes face?
First, girls get 1.13 million fewer sports opportunities than boys in the United States alone. Along with the lack of access, there is also a lack of coaches, apparel, and adequate equipment that don't meet their needs. Only 27% of youth sports coaches are female; if the number was higher, it could help make girls feel more welcome in play and sport environments.
Kids need the benefits of sports now, more than ever. What we need is more parents, coaches, and caring adults with the right tools to help make the sport fun for girls. We hope for a future in a sport that's inclusion-led and community-based. This starts with training coaches to be more inclusive and focused on kids' needs, including girls, with guides like this.